Tobin Mueller music @ All About Jazz

Updated: June 11, 2021

Born: December 3, 1955

Composer, musician, playwright, Tobin Mueller has been involved in collaborations across the artistic spectrum. His latest recording, WHAT SURVIVES, highlights his talent across many Jazz stylings, from contemporary Big Band to Ballads to R&B and Funk. It follows on the heals of Tobin's 2018 blockbuster, STANDARD DEVIATIONS, in which he reinterprets 33 of the greatest Jazz Standards of all-time. In addition, WONDER (2019), is a tour de force combining Jazz Fusion and Progressive Rock. RAIN BATHER won Best Jazz Album in 2009. He also has numerous solo piano jazz albums, including AFTERWORDS and the MASTERWORKS TRILOGY. A virtuoso post-bop modal jazz multi-genre genius, Mueller has recorded with Grammy winners Dave Brubeck, Ron Carter (see COME IN FUNKY), Michael Hedges, Donny McCaslin (last collaborator with David Bowie), blues guitarist Paul Nelson, and Jon Anderson (from Yes), Janet Planet and more. He's played with Maynard Ferguson; Brian Welch (”Head” from Korn), Scott Rockenfield (Queensrÿche) and countless other musicians from around the globe. A NYC Dramatist Guild playwright, he's staged 5 shows in Manhattan, toured the world, and been involved in several artistic multi-genre collaborations involving the Internet. He founded the ArtsForge Collaborative Artist Community back in 1998. He's won awards for music, poetry and environmental commitment (UNEP Roll of Honor).

Awards

United Nations’ Global 500 Roll of Honor, laureate, 1994. WHAT SURVIVES (2020 Best of Year Pick) - MainlyPiano.com JAZZIZ Magazine's Critics' Choice: Afterwords (2017). Fanfare Magazine's Annual Critics Choice awards: Of Two Minds (2016), Flow (2015) Mainly Piano's Annual Favorite Picks: WONDER (2019), Standard Deviations (2018), Afterwords (2017), Of Two Minds (2016), Flow (2015). Album of the Year: Rain Bather, JazzChicago.net (2009). Wisconsin Association of Environmental Educator’s “Earthguard Award”, 1993. Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s “Environmental Excellence Award”, 1994.

Tags

”STANDARD DEVIATIONS” - An amazing jazz amalgam that showcases the great players Mueller chose to record with. But even more so, it captures at its zenith Mueller’s genius ability to dance in and out of motifs and themes while paying such great respect to the jazz composers he “quotes”. He makes the intertwining of the composer's intent with his own interpretation sound effortless, expansive, beautiful and awesome...” - John LaMantia, contributing critic for Downbeat Magazine

“RAIN BATHER is yet another demonstration of Tobin Mueller’s multi-faceted artistry

“RAIN BATHER is yet another demonstration of Tobin Mueller’s multi-faceted artistry. For a vibrant musical experience overflowing with life and attitude, check it out!” - Kathy Parson, MainlyPiano.com

“WONDER: a post-political concept album of epic proportions. 13 1/2 stars out of 16” - Progression Magazine (Eric Harabadian)

“MASTERWORKS TRILOGY- Solo Piano” - Tobin Mueller proves his originality, his inquisitiveness as a musician and a thinker, and his fluid, full throttle energy as a pianist. One continually has the sense that the piano is Mueller’s alter ego, and when he sits down to play, to arrange or improvise, he is engaging in an exciting dialogue of discovery with his inner self.” - Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold, Fanfare Magazine

“REVOLUTION'S SON comes across as a symphonic whirlwind of passion and sensations following a young man’s post-apocalyptic journey. With their tight, gorgeous arrangements, the songs used every hertz of my sound system with organ, mellotron, heavy bass and percussion.... My car was swaying back and forth as I attempted to keep my mind on the road while being caught up in song’s emotional rollercoasters... I predict you will return to this album time and time again, gaining new insights and following along as I did to its emotional highs and lows.” - Progressive Ears (Brian G)

“AUDIOCRACY: Excellent Jazz Progressive Rock.” Progressive Era (Denis Longo)

“13 MASKS: A Conceptual Work of Art! This is Tobin Mueller’s follow-up to his 2005 release, 'Morning Whispers.' Full of musical surprises, Mueller interweaves jazz, 20th century classical, 'post-New Age solo piano,' and what Mueller calls 'progressive ragtime,' and blends them through the 'chaos of his subconsciousness.' Mueller’s stories, told through the medium of solo piano, are often whimsical and funny, but this is no lightweight piece of entertainment. The music is complex and often challenging, but is not so esoteric to be intimidating. I found it fascinating the first time through, and enjoy it more each time I hear it. ...An amazing album, a unique album with music to really sink your teeth into.” - Kathy Parson, MainlyPiano.com

“MORNING WHIPSERS is the result of a special commission to create a cycle of songs for solo piano dedicated to healing and joyful passion. Tobin Mueller brings to his music a wide variety of experiences as an award-winning playwright, author, composer of children’s music, photographer, and collaborator on cross-genre projects, as well as his work on global environmental issues. He has released several CDs, but this is his first solo piano CD and his debut with SiMig Media Records, a label that promotes independent artists who do most of their recording in their home studios.” - Kathy Parson, MainlyPiano.com

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Tobin Mueller

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