Mitch Rutman Group: Who We Are
Mitch Rutman Group
From Knoxville, TN The Mitch Rutman Group plays a high-energy show of all instrumental, all original music incorporating Jazz, Funk, Blues, Reggae, Hip-Hop and Latin grooves. Crossing the barriers of ‘Jazz-Fusion’ and ‘Jam Band’ The Mitch Rutman Group is quickly attracting a diverse and enthusiastic audience. The debut CD, featuring Flecktones Saxophonist Jeff Coffin, is already receiving extensive radio airplay, on-line sales and great reviews from industry professionals and fans alike. Comfortable on any size stage, The Mitch Rutman Group has performed at The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, The Bonnaroo Music Festival, opened for the amazing Umphrey's McGee, opened for premier Jazz guitarist, John Scofield, and continues to also play in some of the southeast’s finest intimate venues. “…Consider their EP a snapshot of the future when the newly formed Mitch Rutman Group records and releases their first full-length album. …It will be no surprise when the Mitch Rutman Group becomes one of the best-known names in mainstream jazz-rock”… Brett Albers - Blue Banner – UNC - Asheville.
Mitch Rutman - Guitars
Guitarist and Composer Mitch Rutman is a Berklee College of Music graduate with extensive live and studio performances to his credit. A frequent guest guitarist with The Dave Matthews Band – (check out DMB’s ‘Live In Chicago’ CD) - Mitch Rutman has also sat in with members of Maroon 5, John Mayer’s band, and DJ Logic. As a soloist, Mitch Rutman has played numerous gigs around the country including opening spots for jazz greats Larry Carlton and Bill Frisell. As a band leader, Mitch continues to write and play with Knoxville TN's finest musicians. A fan of well crafted Popular music, Mitch Rutman composes his all-instrumental jazz with a cohesive and melodic approach, making for memorable, even sing-able tunes.
Ben Maney - Keyboards
Keyboardist Ben Maney is perhaps one of the most sought after musicians in Knoxville, TN as well as the surrounding area. His impeccable timing and his ability to solo beyond the stratosphere is an awe inspiring and jaw dropping experience to behold. Ben Maney’s delivery of Jazz, Latin, Blues and Funk styles make him an integral part of the harmonic texture of the band. From his solo piano gigs to his permanent seat in The MacDaddies, Knoxville’s top Blues band, Ben Maney continues to reinvent his piano technique often resulting in new and unusual exploratory projects. No matter the style, fans of Ben Maney will go to great lengths to find out where he’s playing next.
Vince Ilagan - Bass
Rounding out the Mitch Rutman Group on bass is Vince Ilagan who consistently sets fire to everything he plays. A graduate of The University of Tennessee’s School of Music and a Bass Performance Instructor at Lee University, Vince Ilagan maintains the pulse of the band with unmatched precision. Possessing an extraordinary sense of timing and rock-solid articulation, Vince Ilagan clearly understands the composition at hand, making his bass playing simply, as good as it gets. Equally as proficient in traditional jazz as he is in Funk, Blues, or even Hip-Hop, Vince Ilagan sets the groove, playing both an exciting and essential role in the accessibility of the Mitch Rutman Group.
Chad Melton - Drums
On drums, Chad Melton is the driving force of energy behind the Mitch Rutman Group. Chad’s Melton’s sensitivity toward different musical genres seamlessly allows him to play an up-tempo composition with thunderous excitement one minute, and then delicately fill the spaces of a soulful Ballad the next. A student of Jeff Sipe, (Aquarium Rescue Unit), and also of premier tabla master Pandit Charin Jit Chacur Lal, Chad Melton continues to study as well as teach a wide variety of drum and percussion techniques. Chad Melton is co-founder of The Modern Tong Orchestra (featuring Jeff Sipe), and a first call drummer for the southeast’s favorite Reggae outfit, Natti Love Joy.
Jon Whitlock - Percussion
Most recently, The Mitch Rutman Group joined forces with multi-percussionist Jon Whitlock. The addition is clearly complimentary of the band’s original sound,
adding exciting textures and elements of world music. Jon Whitlock has extensive touring experience as well as being a teacher and co-author of “The Rudimental
Cookbook”, a study in drum technique. In addition to his work with the Mitch Rutman Group, Jon Whitlock is currently touring with Christabel and the Jons. In his spare time, you’ll find him freelancing with other Knoxville groups such as The Bearded and Primordial Soup, Doing studio work, and
working in musical theater.