Mimi Fox is an American jazz guitarist and educator, known internationally for her work.

Mimi Fox
Born (1956-08-24) August 24, 1956 (age 68)
Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsOrigin, Favored Nations
Websitemimifoxjazzguitar.com

Career

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Fox's mother was a jazz singer and her father owned a large record collection that she heard from an early age. After watching the Monkees and the Beatles, she became interested in guitar at the age of ten. She taught herself to play by listening to the Beatles album Rubber Soul.[1] In her teens, she played drums at school. Her professional career began at the age of seventeen when she performed in the lounge of a Chinese restaurant.[2]

In the late 1970s, she moved to California and took lessons from guitarist Bruce Forman, which she has called the turning point in her career.[2][3] Joe Pass became her friend and mentor.[4]

Fox has taught at Yale University, Berklee College of Music,[4] New York University, and has led the guitar department at California Jazz Conservatory.[3] She has worked with guitarists Charlie Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, and Martin Taylor[4] and with Joey DeFrancesco, Branford Marsalis, Houston Person, David Sanchez, and Lonnie Smith.[2]

Discography

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  • Against the Grain (Catero, 1985)
  • Mimi Fox Live (Tusco, 1993)
  • Turtle Logic (Monarch, 1995)
  • Kicks (Monarch, 1999)
  • Standards (Origin, 2001)
  • Two for the Road with Greta Matassa (Origin, 2003)
  • She's the Woman (Favored Nations, 2004)
  • Soul Eyes with Bruce Arnold (Muse-eek, 2005)
  • Perpetually Hip (Favored Nations, 2006)
  • Live at the Palladium (Favored Nations, 2011)
  • Standards, Old and New (Origin, 2013)[5]
  • May I Introduce to You with San Francisco String Trio (Ridgeway, 2017)
  • This Bird Still Flies (Origin, 2019)
  • One For Wes Mimi Fox Organ Trio for Wes (2023)

References

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  1. ^ Cooper, Greg (5 January 2016). "Reverb Interview: A Moment With Mimi Fox". Reverb. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  3. ^ a b Heidt, John (30 January 2007). "Mimi Fox". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Cleveland, Barry (6 February 2014). "Mimi Fox Expands Jazz Guitar from the Inside Out". GuitarPlayer.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Mimi Fox: music". www.mimifoxjazzguitar.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
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