Professor Robert Mitchell

Key details:

Department:
Jazz
Role:
Jazz Piano Professor
Robert Mitchell photo by Alexis Maryon
Robert Mitchell photo by Alexis Maryon

Robert has released 16 albums of his own projects, 4 books, 2 eps and participated in over 100 projects as a sideman, has performed/toured in 40+ countries and is achieving a growing reputation as an inspirational educator/producer. Robert was conferred the title of professor in June 2022 (from Guildhall School of Music & Drama). He has been a Steinway Artist since 2009. 

These days his primary focal points include his new power trio LITTLE BLACK BOOK, improv trio The Flame, solo performance (including a fascination with one-handed works, which produced one solo lh only album and festival - Leftitude - in 2013); and his duos with cellist Shirley Smart (Professor Of Musicianship and Improvisation - RCM), pianist and vocalist Ashley Henry, and dancer Masumi Endo. He has released two collections of poetry narration recordings. 

In 2014 his first large scale work - Invocation - was successfully performed by the Grammy winning Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Goldsmith Big String and students from Avonbourne and Harewood at St Peters Church (Bournemouth) and Queen Elizabeth Hall (London).

Robert recently released two albums  (15th+16th) :the debut from power trio Little Black Book - Blueprint (Of An Infinite Gift)  (Whirlwind Recordings CD WR4842/ Vinyl WR4842LP). This features the combined brilliance of guitarist Zayn Mohammed (Sky Guitar Star winner - 2nd series) and drum phenom Laurie Lowe on a recording involving a multiple genres and Robert's narration of original poetry combined with improv, and a first recording with the new Rhodes Mk8 and Roland Ax Edge keytar. And earlier in 2026 - the debut from a unique trio of vocal improv legend Maggie Nicols and operatic/improv wonder  Alya Al-Sultani : Immersion (Discus Music 205CD) - which picked up a 5star review from BBC Music Magazine (see below).

In 2019  Robert worked as MD on a BBC4 tribute to the great 60s TV show - Jazz 625 Live:For One Night Only (performing with Joshua Reman, Jacqui Dankworth and featuring Gregory Porter). It won Best Music Programme at the 2020 Broadcast Awards and has been shown every year since. He was among the group of nominees for the 2020 Hamlyn Award for Composition who all became recipients of the award due to the pandemic. He also was featured guest on all episodes of Jazz Meets Classical (a first jointly broadcast project on Jazz FM and Scala - in 2022).

Robert has completed  many commissions over the  years. The Jazz South Radar Commission Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble focuses upon the life and achievements of U.S.civil rights icon, John Lewis. The first London Sinfonietta Commission - Our Hearts Dance The Infinite (While The Giant Puya Blooms) has been recorded by eminent concert pianist Yuki Negishi and was released earlier in 2022 (as part of an album on the Quartzmusic label - for which he wrote the liner notes too).  His most recent for the London Sinfonietta  - Multitudes II - premiered in November 2022 (as part of the London Jazz Festival). This was a response and tribute to the legendary composer and theorist George Russell. 

Robert is part of the brand new ABRSM Jazz Piano book (for the 2026 round of Grade 6-8 exams) having contributed the piece - Amálie (dedicated to his first piano/music teacher - Milada Robertson).

In 2024 Robert released the ep -  A Study In The Key Of Now and the second album from improv trio The Flame - 'Towards The Flame' (both on 577 Records (NYC).

Robert was Artist-In-Residence at Morley College (2024/25) and has arranged some of his music for big band that was premiered in late 2024. 

Robert is a new Tempo Fund Ambassador for Merton Music Foundation (2025-8). He is a Task Force Member and Mentor at Black Lives In Music, piano tutor at Youth Music Makers, and an ambassador for the Featured Artists Coalition and for Piano Restorations (Bicester).  He has written articles for Common Tone Press (US) and Music Mark (UK).

Robert also teaches at the Royal Academy Of Music, and has done projects at Pôle Sup (Paris) and the Conservatoire De Paris (CNSMDP).  He also worked as a mentor for MJazz earlier in 2026.

Robert recently recorded a long awaited duo with Dr.Corey Mwamba (vibraphone) due out on Discus late in 2026. Forthcoming recordings including two piano with  Richard Fairhurst,  The Flame and Solo...

Robert is published by Bucks Music Group (worldwide), and worked with longtime U.S. arts consulting and management organization, Outward Visions (George Russell, Steve Reich, John Zorn, Art Ensemble of Chicago, World Saxophone Quartet) for over 10 years. 

Robert recently had three books of piano pieces published by 80 Days Publishing (Christpher Norton and Andrew Jones). This work spans 15yrs and included some of his earliest left hand only music, and rh only explorations for the first time.

Robert has also recently released a new hardback compilation of his poetry collections (spanning 2017-26) - including a new book 'Balancing The Stones' for 2026.

Quotes:


'Mitchell is a restless spirit musically and metaphysically, diverse in his projects, but unified in his vision that music is a power for change. ' Andy Robson - Jazzwise 2026  (Review of Little Black Book's debut: Blueprint - Of An Infinite Gift  - Whirlwind Recordings 2025)

'Robert Mitchell is one of the UK's greatest living jazz pianists and in such a list would be placed somewhere near the top.' Marlbank - Stephen Graham

'Finally, a special mention for Immersion, where the voices of improvising doyenne Maggie Nicols, classically trained Iraqi soprano Alya Al-sultani and pianist Robert Mitchell come together for a welcome reunification of jazz and poetry, a concept that has been around since the work of Patchen and Rexroth in the 1950s. Here it returns refreshed: a proper discussion of which – and indeed the history of this artistic biform – could fill several pages. Do check out this compelling example of vocal theatre, which is both technically remarkable and emotionally charged.'   - BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE ***** (Five Stars) Roger Thomas

'It’s a unique album, and I doubt if poetry has ever achieved such an original musical timbre, particularly as the album is the result of completely unrehearsed studio sessions by three disparate musicians who had never previously performed together, and who out of apparent wide divergence, create a precious real-times unity.' Chris Searle - Morning Star  (Review of  Immersion - Maggie Nicols/Aly Al-Sultani/ Robert Mitchell  - Discus Music 2026)

“The final, headline act was The Flame: Robert Mitchell (Piano) / Olie Brice (Double Bass) / Mark Sanders (Drums). This is an outstanding improvising trio of three musicians all at the peak of their powers – listening, interacting and prompting. Sanders can play delicately, but is at his best thundering alongside the others, prompting and dropping bombs in all the right places. Brice is a whirlwind, rumbling in the background or driving things along in the foreground. Mitchell uses his formidable technique to good effect whether on dramatic chords or glittering runs.”  Peter Slavid, UK Jazz News

“Robert Mitchell’s TRUE THINK were absolutely incredible at Marsden Jazz Festival — searing musicianship and precisely declaimed poetry combined with a rich instrumental palette and impeccable ensemble playing, all punctuated by epic, euphoric improvisation. Life changing stuff.”  Barney Stevenson, Artistic Director, Marsden Jazz Festival 2022**

‘Robert Mitchell is one of Britain’s finest and most versatile pianist-composer-improvisors’  The Wire Magazine

'Mitchell has been making his own genre over the years, a kind of music that is as eclectic as virtuosic and he is arguably not as readily perceived as an avant-garde artist to the same extent as the other band members here. Having said that, his ability is entirely suited to a more malleable structural context such as this. Rooted in the guiding principle of reflex action and conversation there are as many pirouettes of tempo, attack and texture on this live session as one might expect from a gathering of such strong individual personalities.' The Flame (Jazzwise Review - Kevin Le Gendre ****)

 'There are two poems by Mr. Mitchell included in the liner notes, both of which show him to be a wonderfully thoughtful, articulate and probing poet of the highest order.' Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG NYC

For more information about this outstanding artist, visit