Nicole Mitchell discusses her early training and the importance of her time in Chicago and as a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Nicole mentions impactful flutists like Eric Dolphy, Hubert Laws, James Newton and the next generation of emerging musicians from the AACM. During the interview we hear several pieces of music with her Black Earth Ensemble as well as a free improvisation.
Nicole has been Top Flutist by Downbeat Magazine’s Jazz Critic’s Poll every year from 2010-2017, Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association nine times since 2008 and, more recently, the Champion of New Music Award by the American Composers Forum in 2018.  
“Ms. Mitchell….brings an eclectic ear and a frothy vigor to her instrument. The flute is rarely given much of a chance in jazz…. But she has transcended all that, becoming a leading voice of music’s cutting edge…..Ms. Mitchell is probably the most inventive flutists in the past 30 years of jazz.”