Knoxville520.com

Last week at the Bijou Theatre I had the pleasure of hearing my first Mitch Rutman solo performance. Given the daunting task of opening for jazz giants Bill Frisell and Jack DeJohnette, Rutman seemed confident and energized as he sat delivering his stylishly precise guitar compositions. More than happy to engage the crowd, Rutman was personable and humorous remarking, “I can’t believe that’s Jack DeJohnette’s drum kit. I’m gonna touch it.” His set consisted mainly of original material from his Knoxville based quintet’s latest album and also a few Steely Dan covers.

Luckily for all those not in attendance that night, Mitch will be bringing his guitar down to Oodles Uncorked wine bar this Saturday night. Oodles, for the unacquainted, is located on market square and offers an extensive wine list and comfortable date atmosphere. The venue is a perfect match for the guitarist’s sound, which is a pleasing hybrid of jazz/blues/latin/reggae and seemingly anything else that inspires him.
Besides being able to carry a striking solo performance, Mitch also leads one of Knoxville’s tightest bands. Check out The Mitch Rutman Group website for a sampling of their self-titled release. Tracks like the jazzy PBR’s Rule and the reggae influenced Unexplained Subway Moisture are especially noteworthy. In addition to having some of Knoxville’s finest musicians, the album features Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Mitch Rutman’s resume speaks for itself. Frequent guest appearances with The Dave Matthews Band (see the DMB Live in Chicago CD), opening for John Scofield , and playing at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival are all on the list. Mitch is a prime example of the wealth of talent that resides right here in Knoxville. Come to Oodles this Saturday at 10 p.m. and find out for yourself.

The Mitch Rutman Group at Bonnaroo