MITCHELL CHAVEZ 
 ONE OF THE ONE   WORLDS BEST GUITARIST      

San Pedro born and raised, Mitchell Chavez cut his teeth with local soul outfits The Topics and the Del Rays. He later moved on to more hard rock bands the Exceptions and Rock Bottom. In 1975, Mitch and recent college grad Frank Unzueta formed Vision to, in their words, “get some club work so we could put food on the table and maybe meet some chicks”. They succeeded on both fronts and sowed the seeds of a musical partnership that is as strong as ever. “I actually started working with Frank about five years earlier, Mitch continues, he filled in for our bass player (who forgot about a gig the Exceptions had booked) and as it turned out he received his first paying gig with us”. The legend goes that a 16-year-old Frank Unzueta used to hang out at Mitch’s band rehearsals to try to learn the ropes. “Yeah, he used to sit in the corner with a buddy and check things out. He even showed me a chord that I had never played before, which I was kind of impressed with”. But Frank was even more impressed with Mitch’s guitar playing. “He and his band used to have genuine Fender guitars and amps, not the cheap imitations that I as a beginner owned. He could play anything, and he had an incredible ear”. Though they were in cover bands, they were developing their unique style six nights a week, five hours a night. “Frank and I used to listen to everything and try everything no matter how foreign it was. There was never any petty jealously between us, and we always learned from each other.

Mitchell sites as his earliest musical influence his uncle, Rudy Chavez. “My uncle Rudy bought me my first guitar. In fact, when I was 12 years old, he put the down payment on my second guitar, a Fender Jaguar and Bandmaster amplifier. I paid the balance with my early gigs with the Topics. He was a merchant seaman who frequently went to South America, bringing home Bossa

Nova records. When I heard those sounds, I knew that was I wanted to play”. When asked who were the most influential guitarists on his musical development, Chavez names quite an eclectic list including Jimi Hendrix , Laurindo Almeida, Andres Segovia, and Howard Roberts. “Mike Payne (of the San Pedro band Super Chicken) was an influence on me as well. He was a great guitarist.

Listen to Mitchell Chavez’ guitar work on L.A.Mambo and you will hear all these influences and more. From intricate and tender acoustic guitar work, to searing and passionate fire from his electric guitar, Mitchell Chavez is, as Frank Unzueta states, “the man”.