Brian Mitchell Music

      Multitalented musician Brian Mitchell is well known in music industry circles and beyond for working with some of music's most respected artists including Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble,

Bob Dylan,  BB King, Dolly Parton,  Little Feat, Rosanne Cash, Allen Toussaint, and Buster Poindexter as well as recording and performing his own original music. He has appeared on 5 Grammy award winning recordings, 3 with Levon Helm, and one each with BB King and Les Paul. n 2015 Brian was inducted into the New York Blues Hall Of Fame. His versatility on piano, Hammond B-3 organ, accordion, various vintage keyboards and harmonica plus his distinct vocal stylings have firmly established him as one of New York City's most sought after musicians. 

​

      A native New Yorker, Mitchell is a mainstay in Manhattan's competitive live music scene. Known for his high-energy performances, Mitchell's own material features a unique blend of gutbucket blues, funky New Orleans style R& B, quirky latin rhythms, and occasional visits into outer space. Brian is currently performing through out the country with The Weight Band,  (featuring former members of The Band & The Levon Helm Midnight Ramble)

 He also performs much of his original music with "The Brian Mitchell Band", his accordion power trio "Fatboy Kanootch" with Clark Gayton on tuba. and funky electronica with "House OF Diablo" featuring Shawn Pelton on drums and electronic percussion at various exotic nightclubs around New York City.

​

      Brian’s work as a composer has been featured in TV,  film, and theatre. His original music with “House Of Diablo” was featured in the Robert Altman movie “Tanner On Tanner”. His blues piano stylings were featured in Bill Sims music for August Wilson’s Broadway play “8 Pianos”.  Brian also cowrote music for the AMC TV series "Hell On Wheels"with Marc Copely and James Dolan. And recently  the song “Step Away” written by Brian and Christine Santelli was included on Bettye LaVette's Grammy nominated CD “Worthy”.  His unique approach to performing and recording in the studio was the subject of a feature article in Keyboard Magazine. Subsequently Brian has written various articles for the magazine including an interview with Allen Toussaint.

​

    Brian has made frequent TV appearances including performances on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “Late Night with Conan O’Brian”, "The Tonight Show", as well as appearing on the soap opera “One Life To Live”. Brian’s accordion can be heard throughout Bob Dylan’s version of the Dean Martin chestnut “Return To Me” that was featured in an episode of “The Soprano’s”. Other special collaborations include accompanying actor Christopher Walken on accordion in the movie “Search and Destroy”  and playing piano with Amy Helm in the Vera Farmiga film "Higher Ground". Brian can also be seen on PBS performing on "Live At The Ryman" with Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble Band, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Sheryl Crow and Robert Plant. He  also appears in "The Love For Levon Concert" performing with Roger Waters, Greg Allman & Warren Haynes, John Mayer, John Hiatt, John Prine, Mavis Staples, 

Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and My  Morning Jacket. Brian can currently be seen playing with The Weight Band on the PBS tv show"Live At The Infinity"