“Johnny Cash was on to something when he sang, I’ve Been everywhere, man”, Mitchell says with great joviality. “The one thing I can add is that all of this would be impossible without God in my life. God is the greatest power, the Bible says, that before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He knew us, and He has given life and creativity to this preacher’s kid from St. Louis, I have been afforded the opportunity to travel around the world and share stages with music legends and icons. Yeah, you will find me being most grateful. Then Covid hit, slowed us down, forced many of us to stop, pray and think. I have a different mindset, I don’t want to leave here without having done what I was called to do, and because of what God has done for me, I am obligated to help and reach for somebody else. So, yeah, I am mission minded.”
The classically trained musician whose earliest musical experiences can be traced back to his home church where his grandfather and father served as pastor treasures those foundational days. Mitchell was exposed to Bach and Chopin as well as James Cleveland and Milton Brunson. It was also there he quickly learned how music spoke a universal language and connected to the hearts and minds of people. This would prove useful in his life and work. His teenage years brought him to a renaissance as he experienced the music of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue recording. Moving to NY in pursuit of additional jazz studies led him to Mannes School of Music, where he continued to cultivate his gift. Several opportunities would ensue as he went on to work with the jazz greats including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Terrance Blanchard, Dianne Reeves and others. In 2003, Shedrick had a destiny encounter as he was asked to accompany Whitney Houston. This association would last for nine years. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Shedrick shares fond memories of his many travels and life lessons learned with his many students and music connoisseurs.
The 15 tracks that comprise Time, Reflections, Distance are songs and hymn classics that are near and dear to Shedrick’s religious experiences. The album is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated projects of this year.
