THE KEVIN MITCHELL 4 > Bios

4 Bios

Kevin Mitchell started piano lessons when we was 9 and feels he might just now be getting the hang of it. He played jazz bass at Lindbergh High School (only the “lab” band; alas he wasn’t good enough to play in the better band that featured Steve and Barb). He graduated with a degree in composition from the University of Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he played bass in jazz combos. He recorded an album of pop/jazz-flavored original tunes in 1986 on which he played most of the instruments (not the saxes—Steve played those). He’s played in many bands in many cities (alt rock in Kansas City, punk in Tulsa, OK), but this is the first one his mother has approved of.

Barb Jochens is a graduate of Lindbergh High School and has played in every musical group except string quartet. She played trombone and sang with Quintessence for 5 years right out of high school, took off eight years to have kids, then played with the group YESSIR! for 10 years. She then hung up the trombone because she was sick of the jokes and joined the KM4. Barb is also an actress and has appeared in many local plays and musicals, including the lead role of an evil witch in the original Beanstalk!, which Kevin wrote.

Steve Kauffmann began playing the saxophone at age 10 and has been performing professionally in St. Louis since 1980. He’s played tenor and alto with Sundance & Brass, St. Louis Sessions Jazz Band, Mystix, Quintessence (with Barb), Meramec Symphonic and Jazz Bands and also on several studio recording projects (with Kevin). Steve’s musical influences include Paul Desmond, Phil Woods, David Sanborn, and Jay Beckenstein. He is
an IT Director at Emerson Motor Company, which won him the prestigious "Most Likely to Pay his Utility Bill" award. And yes, Steve often gets stuck paying the check at Denny's after gigs.

Chuck Kennedy is the newest member of the quartet. This drummer
extraordinaire has been playing jazz as a teenager, and is seen playing
with the best players at the best clubs. He’s played with Now & Then,
Ralph Butler, Sound Unlimited, and is a regular at Cookies Jazz in
Webster Groves. Chuck is a walking encyclopedia of all things jazz,
local and national.

To book The Kevin Mitchell 4 jazz quartet, please contact Kevin.