The UMKC Conservatory is pleased to announce that Mitch Butler is the new Assistant Teaching Professor of Jazz.
Dr. Butler is a native of Raleigh, NC. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Performance from East Carolina University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Performance with an emphasis in Jazz Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mitch has been the trombonist and leader of a number of musical groups including the Nebulous Jazztet 2001–2006, Modus Bone 2010–2012, the CSU East Bay Faculty Jazztet, and currently the Mitch Butler Quartet. He was a member of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra headed by world renowned trumpeter Irvin Mayfield 2008–2010. In February 2010 the N.O.J.O. won the Grammy Award for large jazz ensemble with the release of the recording Book One—a recording that Mitch is featured on. He is also the soloist on the critically acclaimed Nnenna Freelon and John Brown Big Band album, Christmas.
Butler has performed and/or recorded with musical greats Curtis Fuller, Tia Fuller, Derrick Gardner, Aaron Graves, Benny Green, Tim Hagans, Slide Hampton, Tom Harrell, Andre Hayward, Conrad Herwig, Brad Leali, Branford Marsalis, Jason Marshall, Bob Mintzer, Melton Mustafa, Dick Oatts, Rufus Reid, Herlin Riley, Stephen Riley, Adonis Rose, Darius Rucker, Grady Tate, Billy Taylor, Gregory Tardy, The Temptations, Ray Vega, Fred Wesley, and many others.
As an educator in jazz studies. Mitch served previously as the Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, CA 2013–2016. Before that, he was Director of Jazz Studies at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC 2009–2013. He frequently invests time in music education throughout the community, providing private lessons in trombone and jazz studies as well as participating in clinics/workshops throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, the Southeast, Central Texas, and California.
Mitch Butler is an exclusive Michael Rath Trombones artist and clinician.
Welcome Dr. Butler!