Mitch Seidman - Biography

A professional musician for over thirty years, Mitch Seidman began performing in his early teens around Albany, New York, and continued in Boston in 1973 after relocating to continue his education. A Kenny Burrell record first inspired him to pursue jazz guitar, and soon after became inspired by the late Attila Zoller through study and a friendship that began in 1974. In 1979 he moved to New York City where he freelanced in styles of jazz from traditional and swing to progressive, then returned to Boston in 1985 and became one of New England’s busiest jazz guitarists.

Mitch has appeared in the Boston area at the Regattabar, Scullers, Ryles, and the Willow Jazz Club, Papashon in Los Angeles, along with numerous jazz clubs and concert venues throughout New England. While residing in New York City he appeared at Jazzmania, The Other End, the Red Blazer II, and Folk City. Mitch performed at the Jazz is Toulon festival in France, and was an artist-in-residence for the Centro Cultural Norteamericano in Costa Rica. He’s appeared at the Internationales Jazz Guitar Meeting in Germany with guitarist Fred Fried and bassist John Goldsby, and performs annually at the Classic American Guitar Show in New York.

Mitch has appeared or recorded with Harold Vick, John Pisano, Harvie Swartz, Ted Brown, Teddy Kotick, Alan Dawson, Joe Hunt, Tony Zano Herb Pomeroy, Jeff Galindo and Charlie Kohlhase. He has also performed with Hal Crook, George Garzone, Holly Hofmann, Eddie Jones, Freddie Moore, Johnny Williams Jr., Vera Auer, and numerous others. He has accompanied many of Boston’s best vocalists, among them Eula Lawrence, Kris Adams, Paul Broadnax, Monica Hatch, Charlie Harris, Lisa Thorson, and Semenya McCord. He performs regularly with the jazz groups of Ed Harlow, John Purcell, Jazz Insight, and has been heard in a number of guitar duets that have included Fred Fried, Rory Stuart, Jon Wheatley, and Jack Fragomeni.

Mitch is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music instructing a variety of ear training classes and ensembles, and has taught guitar and presented jazz clinics throughout New England and abroad. He is also a contributing editor to 20th Century Guitar magazine with a monthly instructional column entitled Fretware.

He has recordings on the Jardis, Cadence, and Brownstone labels, with his CD Congeniality with Charlie Kohlhase and Jeff Galindo, a critic’s selection in Cadence Magazine’s 2001 Record Poll, and his CD How ‘Bout It?, one of FNX Radio Network’s Top 50 Jazz Recordings of 2001. He is also a contributing editor to 20th Century Guitar magazine with a monthly instructional column entitled Fretware.

Mitch is an artist endorser for Monteleone Guitars, Fishman Transducers, and Evans Custom Amplifiers.

"He is one of the best young guitarists on the scene today; he exalts logic and seriousness."
- Tim Price, Jazz Player

"He is a true eclectic, able to reconcile the romanticism of a Jimmy Van Heusen with the freedom of the avante-garde, while remaining totally convincing on both counts. His lines are full of delightful, unexpected twists and turns and his compositions are both challanging and melodic."
- Jim Fisch, 20th Century Guitar

"His playing gets right to the point....I really dig his creative spirit. The distillation of experience is obvious as soon as he plays."
- Saxophone Journal

...he [Mitch Seidman] tests himself by playing from avante garde to standards to bebop to traditional points of view with equal aplomb... A gem in the music world, Mitch Seidman radiates himself through his guitar.
- Jude Hibler, 20th Century Guitar

Photograph credits

Portrait - Gordon Bernstein
Live at Papashon - Bob Barry