This Is Billy Mitchell, released in 1962 on Smash Records, highlights tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell at a career high point, balancing his work as a respected section leader with a growing reputation as a soloist of authority and grace. Known for his roles in the Count Basie Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie big band, Mitchell here leads a sextet date that reflects both his Detroit roots and his hard bop credentials. The session features vibraphonist Bobby Hutchersonthen at the beginning of his careerorganist Clarence Sleepy Anderson, bassist Herman Wright, drummer Otis Finch, trumpeter Dave Burns and pianist Billy Wallace. Together they deliver a program that combines modern jazz sophistication with soulful drive, ranging from the burning opener J&B to the lush balladry of Sophisticated Lady. Though often overshadowed by flashier contemporaries, Mitchell brought consistency, warmth, and unerring swing to every ensemble he joined. This Is Billy Mitchell remains his signature album as a leader, embodying the creative qualities that made him a key figure in the Detroit-to-New York pipeline of postwar jazz.