Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940)[1] is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist".

[7] In the 1950s, he joined the United States Army, during which time he was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany and played in military parades with fellow saxophonists Albert Ayler and Rubin Cooper, the latter of whom, Mitchell commented, "took me under his wing and taught me a lot of stuff".

[6] Mitchell returned to the United States in the early 1960s, relocated to the Chicago area, and performed in a band with Wilson Junior College undergraduates Malachi Favors (bass), Joseph Jarman, Henry Threadgill, and Anthony Braxton (all saxophonists).

[1] In 1965, Mitchell was one of the first members of the non-profit organization Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM),[1] along with Jodie Christian (piano), Steve McCall (drums), and Phil Cohran (composer).

[1] The album was "a departure from the more extroverted work of the New York-based free jazz players", due in part to the band recording with "unorthodox devices" such as toys and bicycle horns.

In 1999, the band was hit hard with the death of Bowie, but Mitchell fought off the urge to recast his position in the group, stating simply "You can't do that" in an interview with Allaboutjazz.com editor-in-chief Fred Jung.

[11] Mitchell was chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in March 2012 in Minehead, England.

[13] Awards Grants With Anthony Braxton With Jodie Christian With Jack DeJohnette With Sunny Murray With Evan Parker With Mike Reed's Loose Assembly With Matthew Shipp With Alan Silva With Wadada Leo Smith