Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with IMAAI.
Tell us about your music.
My music is a fusion of Funk and smooth jazz. Where Funk is the vehicle and Jazz is the journey.
When did you start performing?
I started performing when I was 16 in Alexander Virginia with the Northern family. The Father supplied the rehearsal space and found the gigs. Eric Northern was the son and amazing drummer. We performed with just Bass and Drums. I later joined the United States Air Force where I would perform in the base talent shows where I was eventually excepted in the showcase band and later tryouts for Tops N Blue (which is like a traveling Broadway show)
Moved to Los Angeles and started working as a Studio Musician where I would meet Herman (Hollywood) Dawkins who would start the production of my first album Soul Searching. Later would be introduced to Michael Sutton (Legendary Motown writter) who produced all albums following Perception, Gravity and many singles.
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
I was born in Meridian Mississippi but raised in a place called Cuba Alabama. That I consider my home in heart. I was there with my Grand Parents on a farm where hard work and discipline was the law of the land.
And so being raised to complete what you start and work as if it was for God.
Living there I learned that with diligence and hard work anything was possible. And that was engraved in my spirit to Soar.
What performers have been your inspiration?
My inspiration coming up learning the bass guitar started from seeing a good friend in Bloomfield Connecticut that was an incredible bassist.
I was deeply influenced by him and those around him like Kevin “Weaverbey who taught me to play my first song on bass (Just the two of us on the Grover Washington Wine Light Album). Later as I advanced I really started to get into Marcus Miller, I found him to be exceptional, and his influence on what I consider fusion went straight to my heart. By the way Marcus does an Incredible bass solo on the David Sanborn Album Straight to the Heart.
I also was influence and inspired by Larry Graham (Father of the Thump)
Louis Johnson (Brothers Johnson) Stanley Clarke, and the Genius of Jaco Pastorius (Pastorius) who introduced the idea of using harmonics and advanced melodic compositions. For a bass player, this was insane.
What do you base your success on?
Success for me is a combination of hard work and achieving the desired results. When I can communicate something from my heart to people I am working with, and they are able to make that idea tangible. That is success for me.
What was your latest musical release?
My latest release was called the Gunslinger.
When growing up, my father and I would watch Westerns on TV.
We would always anticipate the final gunfight at the end.
In playing the bass, people would say I was a gunslinger because of the way I was thumping on the neck. So this latest project was for Western enthusiasts and those that like bass in your face.
I am also working on the Dedication project for my Mother who passed from Breast Cancer. I have some very special guest that will be showing Much Love on this project thanks to the Sound of LA.
Do you have any news to share?
The Dedication Album will be released soon please look out for that.
I believe and hope it may be an inspiration to those here now, and coming generation.
How can fans find you?
I can be found on all Social media platforms.
www.mitchellcolemanjr.com
Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
As I was inspired in my youth to become greater at the things I pursued
In life. I found that all it really takes to kickstart anything was interest and discipline. It is that thing you become a slave to. Which in time you will become Master of. So I say Keep On Keeping On in your Pursuit of Self.