Seidman, Mitch (Mitchell F.), guitar, electric bass; b. Long Branch, NJ 27 November 1953 His parents are Benson W. Seidman, (b. 7/18/26 Far Rockaway (NY) and Susan Seidman Levin (b.10/27/27 Springfield, PA). Allyn (b. 5/31/50 Long Branch, NJ Gaye (b. 10/19/55 Long Branch, NJ, and Shari (b. 3/8/62 Long Branch, NJ. In 1962, the Seidman family moved to Glens Falls (NY) from New Jersey. Mitch began flute lessons at eight years old and took guitar lessons at ten. Seidman was a member of several rock bands in Albany, NY during his teenage years. His family moved to Loudonville in 1965. From 1973 to 1978, he continued performing in Boston. In 1978, he moved to Berklee College of Music to pursue a BA in composition. Attila Zoller encouraged him through study and a friendship that started with lessons in 1974-1975. He was able to play with Tal Farlow and Jimmy Raney through Zoller. Seidman left Boston in 1979 to freelance in jazz styles from swing and traditional to progressive jazz. He returned to Boston in 1985 to become one of the most active jazz guitarists in New England. Seidman also received a Masters Degree from Boston University in Music Education in 1993. He also holds a teaching certificate for grades 6-12. He directed and taught jazz ensembles at B.U, as well as guitar lessons. Seidman has performed in Boston at the Regattabar and Scullers, Ryles, as well as the Willow Jazz Club, Papashon, in Los Angeles, and many other jazz clubs and concert venues in New England. Seidman has performed at Jazzmania, The Other End and the Red Blazer II in New York City as well as at the Smithsonian’s IMAX Jazz Cafe, Washington, DC. Seidman performed with Lenny Hochman, Eula Lawrence, at the 1995 Jazz is Toulon festival, Toulon, France. He was also an artist-in residence for Centro Cultural Norteamericano, Costa Rica, in 1997. He’s appeared at the 1999 Internationales Jazz Guitar Meeting in Spiesen-Elversberg,Germany, and performs annually at the Classic American Guitar Show in New York. Seidman was also featured at the 2001 and 2000 Attila Zoller tribute concert in Brattleboro. He has recorded with Harvie S (formerly Harvie Schwartz), Ted Brown and Alan Dawson. He has performed with John Pisano and Teddy Kotick as well as George Garzone, George Garzone (formerly Harvie Swartz), Hal Crook, Michael Formanek. Vera Auer is a vocalist who has also recorded with Tyrone Brown, Eddie Jones. Freddie Moore, Johnny Williams Jr., and many others. Eula Lawrence and Kris Adams were among his vocal accompaniments. He also performed with Rory Stuart and Fred Fried in duos. Seidman is an instructor in ear training at Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. He teaches a variety of classes as well as leading ensembles. He has presented clinics on jazz guitar in New England (Berklee and Colby, B.U. Boston College, Newport Guitar Festival), and in France, Germany and Costa Rica. He is a contributing editor to 20th Century Guitar magazine and has served as an adjudicator at jazz festivals at Harvard University and Berklee. He married Minnie Te in 1997. From www.jazz.com
