A preview taste for the Black Earth Ensemble concert at Constellation (Chicago) for July 26--new tune: Galaxies Above from the Alpine Forest Suite, my second tribute to Mother Nature.  (FYI: This is a midi sketch).

Galaxies Above

Another taste from Alpine Forest. (FYI midi!) Written for Black Earth Ensemble.  Hope to record live soon!

The Falcon

Sun Dial Ensemble live at Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art for the Angel City Jazz Festival Oct 4, 2013.  This is my new LA-based group featuring Dwight Trible vocals, Jeff Parker guitar, Michael Dessen trombone, myself (flute, composition), Najite Agindotan percussion, Mark Dresser bass and Juan David Rubio drum set. The song is called "Ancient Future Echoes."

Sun Dial- Ancient Future Echoes

A movement from When Life's Door Opens for orchestra, three vocalists and improvisers by Nicole Mitchell, performed by the Tri-centric Orchestra April 2013, featuring vocalist Fay Victor, saxophonist Matt Bauder, french hornist Vincent Chancey, and vibraphonist Bryan Carrott.

Into Your Eyes (When Life's Door Opens)

An excerpt from "When Life's Door Opens" for orchestra, three vocalists and improvisers by Nicole M. Mitchell. Performed live by the Tri-Centric Orchestra featuring Damon Locks spoken word, Fay Victor vocals, Josh Stinton bass clarinet, Vincent Chancey french horn and Jason Hwang violin.

Awakening (When Life's Door Opens)

Flight for Freedom, A Tribute to Harriet Tubman, for Creative Flute and Orchestra, performed by Chicago Composers Orchestra December 10, 2011 at Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago with flute soloist Nicole Mitchell.

Flight for Freedom for Creative Flute and Orchestra

Leave It Alone by Coco Elysses
Performed by Black Earth SWAY

Coco Elysses diddley bow, vocals, composition
Nicole Mitchell flute
Alexis Lombre piano
JoVia Armstrong percussion

Black Earth SWAY

Leave It Alone by Coco Elysses

This is a piece I composed from the suite: Moments of Fatherhood, a project sponsored by the French American Jazz Exchange (FAJE) and premiered at the Sons d'hiver Jazz Festival in Paris. Musicians are from Black Earth Ensemble (Chicago) and Laborintus Ensemble (Paris) including Aruan Ortiz(piano), Renee Baker (vln), David Boykin (sax), Sylvain Kassap, clarinets, Hélène Breschand, harp, Anaïs Moreau, cello, Benjamin Duboc, bass, Caesar Carcopino, percussion. Upcoming recording on Rogue Art 2016! 

Towards Excellence - MOF

For my oldest friend: soul sister Jeni Presnall.  I will carry you in my heart forever.  Sweet travels to your next destination.  Thank you for many gifts of open heart, courage and creativity.  Love Niki

Jeni's Lullaby Love Niki

Points Of Light

Jade Droplet

This Moment is a song written for collaboration between Malian master musician Ballake Sissoko and Black Earth Ensemble for the Bamako*Chicago project featuring Babani Koni and Mankwe Nodsi (vocals), Fassery Diabete (balafon), Ballake Sissoko (kora), Nicole Mitchell (flute, composition), Felton Offard (guitar), Joshua Abrams (bass) and Jovia Armstrong (percussion). It was performed in Paris at Branly Museum. 

This Moment (Bamako*Chicago)

Liberation Narratives: Gwendolyn Brooks. Music by Nicole Mitchell, poetry by Haki R. Madhubuti.  Performed by Black Earth Ensemble: Nicole Mitchell (flute), David Young (trumpet), Mankwe Ndosi (vocals), Renee Baker (violin), Tomeka Reid (cello), David Boykin (tenor sax), Joshua Abrams (bass), Jovia Armstrong (percussion), Jayve Montgomery (electronics)

LN Gwendolyn Brooks Excerpt

Liberation Narratives: Often Hard To Believe. Music by Nicole Mitchell, poetry by Haki R. Madhubuti.  Performed by Black Earth Ensemble: Nicole Mitchell (flute), David Young (trumpet), Mankwe Ndosi (vocals), Renee Baker (violin), Tomeka Reid (cello), David Boykin (tenor sax), Joshua Abrams (bass), Jovia Armstrong (percussion), Jayve Montgomery (electronics)

LN- Often Hard To Believe

Liberation Narratives: Woman Black. Music by Nicole Mitchell, poetry by Haki R. Madhubuti.  Performed by Black Earth Ensemble: Nicole Mitchell (flute), David Young (trumpet), Mankwe Ndosi (vocals), Renee Baker (violin), Tomeka Reid (cello), David Boykin (tenor sax), Joshua Abrams (bass), Jovia Armstrong (percussion), Jayve Montgomery (electronics)

LN- Woman Black

Aaya's Rainbow, from my first album Vision Quest 2001.  Black Earth Ensemble (BEE), with Samuel "Savoir Faire" Williams violin, Edith Yokley violin, Darius Savage bass, Hamid Drake drums and myself flute/composition.

Aaya's Rainbow

Curly Top, from my album Awakening (Delmark 2011) with Jeff Parker guitar, Harrison Bankhead bass, Avreeayl Ra drums and myself flute, composition.

Curly Top

"Visitation" from my album Emerald Hills (Rogue Art 2009) with Sonic Projections featuring Craig Taborn piano, David Boykin tenor sax, Chad Taylor drums and myself flute/composition.

Visitation (Sonic Projections)

Aqua Blue from my new CD, Ice Crystal, Aquarius with Josh Abrams on bass, Jason Adasievicz on vibes, Frank Rosaly on drums and myself on flute/composition.

Aqua Blue (Ice Crystal)

Today, Today from Ice Crystal, Aquarius with Joshua Abrams bass, Frank Rosaly drums, Jason Adasievicz on vibes and myself on flutes, composition.

Today, Today (Ice Crystal)

Sunday Afternoon from Ice Crystal, Aquarius (Demark 2013) with Joshua Abrams bass, Jason Adasievicz on vibes, Frank Rosaly on drums and myself on flute, composition.

Sunday Afternoon (Ice Crystal)

Expection from Ice Crystal, Aquarius with Jason Adasievicz on vibes, Joshua Abrams bass, Frank Rosaly drums and myself on flutes/composition.

Expectation (Ice Crystal)

Message from the Mothergoddess by Nicole M. Mitchell. Performed by Black Earth Ensemble with Aquilla Sadalla vocals, David Boykin soprano sax, Corey Wilkes trumpet, Tomeka Reid cello, Tony Hererra trombone, Bryan Nichols piano, Joshua Abrams bass, Art "Turk" Burton percussion, Arveeayl Ra drums.  From the record Hope, Future and Destiny (Dreamtime 2004).  Music was composed for the multi-arts play Vision Quest. 

Message from the Mothergoddess (Hope, Future, Destiny)

This is a work in progress intended for Black Earth Ensemble. I wrote it for my "Mother Earth" project, which premiered in December 2012 at Manzoni Theater, Milan.  This is just me singing the lyrics with my friend, the computer to show the band how it goes...

Her Passage to the Alpine Forest

Thanking the Universe from Black Unstoppable, Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble (Delmark, 2008) with Ugochi (vocals), David Boykin (tenor sax), David Young (trumpet), Tomeka Reid (cello), Jeff Parker (guitar), Joshua Abrams (bass), Marcus Evans (drums) and myself on flute, composition.

Thanking the Universe (vocalist Ugochi)

Dawn of a New Life, from Xenogenesis Suite, Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble (Firehouse 12, 2008).  Features Mankwe Ndosi (vocals), David Boykin (tenor sax), David Young (trumpet), Tomeka Reid (cello), Justin Dillard (piano), Joshua Abrams (bass), Marcus Evans (drums) and myself flute, composition. The music is inspired by sic-fi writer Octavia Butler and her book Xenogenesis, which expresses the social realities of slavery, fear, otherness in the context of a post-apocalyptic interaction of humans with extraterrestrials.

Dawn of a New Life (Xenogenesis)

From Xenogenesis II: Intergalactic Beings, this is a snippet of Negotiating Identity.  Sci-Fi Thriller music inspired by social issue futurist Octavia Butler.  This is a teaser from upcoming CD on FPE Records of Museum of Contemporary Art Premiere from April 2010 featuring Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble with Mankwe Ndosi vocals, Renee Baker violin, Nicole Mitchell flutes/composition, David Boykin tenor sax, David Young trumpet, Tomeka Reid cello, Jeff Parker electric guitar, Joshua Abrams bass, Arveeayl Ra percussion and Marcus Evans drums.

Negotiating Identity (Intergalactic Beings: Xeno II)

Here's a track from my first flute solo album "Engraved in the Wind" which just came out on Rogue Art Records.

Forest Family (Flute Solo)

Michelle for "you know who": a tune written for Michelle Obama back in 2009, performed by Black Earth Ensemble with Khari Limuel (vocals), myself (flute/composition/lyrics), David Boykin (tenor sax), Shanta Nurullah (sitar), Leon Q. Alexander (trumpet), Alex Wing (guitar), Joshua Abrams (bass), Arveeayl Ra (drums).  

Michelle  (Honoring Grace)

I'm a flute player, an improviser/composer and I'm mostly making and performing my music in the jazz and experimental music realms throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.  My most active groups are Black Earth Ensemble and Black Earth SWAY.  I also do some composing for new music (classical) settings and make soundtracks.  And I really enjoy playing with my friends including Moor Mother, Tiger Trio, Indigo Trio, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra, David Boykin Expanse, Michael Dessen, Mark Dresser and others.

Nicole M. Mitchell

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