Keith Mitchell; Jazz Bassist Left Hollywood to Live in Europe

Keith (Red) Mitchell, the superb jazz bassist who fled the comforts of the Hollywood studio system to pursue his art in Europe where he found the political, racial and economic climate more to his taste, died Sunday night in a Salem, Ore., hospital.

His brother, Gordon Mitchell, said Monday that the veteran of the Red Norvo, Gerry Mulligan and Hampton Hawes jazz combos and sideman and soloist on countless recordings, was 65. He died of a heart attack followed by a massive stroke.

Mitchell, who switched to double bass from piano when he was an Army musician in Germany in the post-World War II era, had toured much of the world before settling in Los Angeles.

He said in a Times interview years ago that he had grown comfortable in the studio system where--after recording the sound track of “I Want to Live” and other hit films--”you could pay the rent for the whole month by just working one day in the studio and still have money left over for food.”

But in 1968 Dizzy Gillespie asked him to go on tour. He enjoyed the extemporary nature of the Gillespie band, but not the pay. He opted to move to Europe that year so that he could play the tunes he loved and enjoy a higher standard of living.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy had also soured him on the United States, he said. In Stockholm and Copenhagen, he said, “I found less racism, less nationalism, less sexism, less ageism.”

He had first fallen in love with Sweden while touring there with Norvo and Billie Holliday in the 1950s. “There are no slums,” he recalled. “And there’s no Beverly Hills either. This must be the place.”

His extended stay in Europe diminished his visibility in the United States, but he continued to show up on the Down Beat poll of leading jazz artists. One of his students--Charlie Haden--had won the annual poll.

Mitchell came back to America about twice a year to record and to perform at Bradley’s in New York City. In his later years, he concentrated on duet engagements and recordings with Herb Ellis, Clark Terry and Jimmy Rowles.

One of his last appearances was with pianist Roger Kellaway at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles last May, shortly after his return to America.

“There is something magic about the number 2,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1989. “It’s a matter of being both selfish and ‘groupish’ at the same time. I do think the politicians could take a lesson from us. . . .”

Besides his brother, who is a musician and writer, Mitchell is survived by his wife, Diane; his son, Allan; his wife’s two sons from a previous marriage, and two grandchildren. His mother, Grace Mitchell, also survives.

Funeral services are pending.