DESCRIPTION:
I have put together a short mini-doc about the late, unsung French bluesman Jean Mitchell. Knowledge of him is sparse and had to be taken from google translate as the only information online is in Portuguese!!

Reworking of the B.B. King song 'I Gotta Move Out Of This Neighbourhood'.

The Band:
Jean Mitchell- guitar/vocals
Gini Zambelli- guitar
Keko Villarroell- bass
Guest appearances- drums & harmonica.

Here is an excerpt from his facebook page:

"Jean Eugène Mouchere, known by the stage name of Jean Mitchell, was an amazing French bluesman who moved to Rio de Janeiro in the 70s, and from 90s, decided to transfer in Salvador (BA), where he remained until his death in 2008. Despite the talent out of the ordinary, he never had the recognition he deserved in Salvador. Made shows for half a dozen people in the Historic Center, accompanied by his band, Jean Mitchell Blues Band, formed by Italian guitarist Gini Zambelli and the Venezuelan bassist Keko Villarroell with possible appearances by guest musicians on drums and harmonica.

The few who had the privilege of watching it inevitably became fans. The shows were explosives. His vocals were compared to Rod Stewart in timbre and Ray Charles in power. The repertoire: Eddie Cochran, James Brown, Robert Johnson, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Steve Wonder, Otis Reding, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Gershwing, Wilson Picket."

"Jean began his career in Paris in the 60s when, as a teenager, he founded Wimbles. With this band, after winning a contest, opened all shows a season that the legendary Chuck Berry did in based American bases in France since the end of World War II. From there, he set up several other blues bands and even touring in Spain and Italy. But engagement with heroin has undermined their work with music. No expectations, stood for some time in Tangier, Morocco, where the cost of living - and drugs were much cheaper.

In the early 70s Brazilian music insinuates itself in the life of Jean and he moves to Rio de Janeiro, attracted by the verses of Jorge Ben and his "tropical country blessed by God and beautiful by nature". It was then that faced one of the most difficult phases of his life, portrayed in fictionalized form in the book "Black Angels", he wrote in a prison and the government of Bahia, through the Program Does Culture, launched in 2001. It was arrested for fake travelers checks. The second edition of the book will be released on the 25th of September (2013) by Novesfora seal"


All rights reserved to Jean Mitchell & all artists involved, this video is non-profit and solely made for the love of the music and sharing of it. RIP Jean. Photography credit:-Thiago Fernandes.

[Made by Thraak Photography]