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Müller's Wheel is a collaborative jazz project between keyboardist Tobin Mueller and saxophonist Woody Mankowski. Most of the tracks are performed by a quartet, a few have a full ensemble, and a few have layered organ and other keys by Tobin and mutliple layered saxes by Woody. Below you'll find links to demo mixes of some of the tracks. The CD has more what is available below and the quality of the mix and sound is much better. To purchase complete CD or individual tracks, please go to The Muller's Wheel on CDBaby. Or purchase directly from me: Müller's Wheel - remastered ($10). The CDBaby site also has reviews and additional liner notes. Müller's Wheel is a collection of tunes that evolve from swing into bop into funk and fusion, although most every track has an element of bop-funk. The inventive hipness in each track will make you want to get up and dance (or shout). Click on the links below to hear early drafts. The music beds (pre-sax) were first recorded and mixed by Tobin on the east coast. He then posted the tracks on the Internet and Woody, living in Wisconsin, added his ideas. Sometimes email and phone conversations clarified and changed one version or the other. This is how the arrangements evolved, even as the two musicians remained in their respective homes one thousand miles apart. The final performances and recordings have all the urgency, communication and dynamism of live, studio and club recordings. In fact, you can almost hear the crowd in the background. All tracks were mixed and master by Tobin on his home Mac. Seafood Gumbo Bop (2:58) Oasis On The Rocks (4:24) Saddle Shoe Sally (4:20) Lost In The West Village (8:48) The Müller's Wheel (3:00) Windowshade (8:28) Fusion of Minds (9:41) Distortion of Memory (5:52) Forrest's Fire (7:34) Struttin' Up Bourbon - with Fran Dagostino on guitar (7:28) River Runs Through Me (6:59) The Shape of My Life - feat. Woody on vocals (3:28) All songs are by Tobin Mueller & Woody Mankowski, ©2010 BONUS TRACKS: *"The Muller's Wheel" is a concept involving the interplay between populataion size, genetic recombination, the influence and speed of evolution and mutations. Large effective population size allows for more efficiency of natural selection, which leads to a selective sweep (the reduction or elimination of variation among nucleotides in neighbouring DNA of a mutation as the result of recent and strong positive natural selection), which decreases effective population size, which decreases the efficiency of selection... And the wheel turns round. Since this project moves from swing to bop to funk, which, in many ways, feels like starting from my parents' muisic and moving toward a return of the music of my own youth, I liked the idea. Plus, the whole Muller thing is a play of my name: Müller, as they spelled it in the Old Country. On a personal note, it is ironic that this project, which grew out of my 2010 New Year's resolution "Do nothing original this year," turned out to be one of the best projects I have ever been involved in. Instead of looking forward, something I've always tried to do with my sound, I looked backward, injecting as a composer/arranger what I've learned, the things that bring me fulfillment as a listener. The reason these recordings transcend hte original concept of an homage is Woody's superlative additions. Totally hip playing and solid melodic power. He has made this a joyful experience. I hope you enjoy this music as much I. Email me to receive a pre-release CD. Or, see CDBaby.com. Below please find additional recordings by Tobin Mueller... |
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| Rain Bather / Jazz... | |||
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Technically, all my solo piano recordings are listed under jazz. But my first pure jazz recording is Rain Bather, a jazz ensemble 80 minute long play CD. Although I play B3 and am sole composer, the highlights of nearly every recording are superlative solo performances by all-star band members. Most of the tunes are in the jazz-funk-fusion vein, but many others try to break new ground, defying easy labels.
Click here to learn more about the recording. Tobin Mueller - B3 organ, electric piano, synth; composer Woody Mankowski - soprano saxophone Chris Mueller - acoustic piano Jeff Cox - acoustic bass Dane Richeson - drums & percussion Tom Washatka - tenor saxophone Doug Schnieder - tenor sax Ken Schaphorst - flugelhorn Bob Levy - trumpet Sal Giorgianni - flute Bill Barner - clarinet, additional sax McBoy - electric guitars |
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| Solo Piano... | |||
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 My first solo piano collection is Morning Whispers, a song cycle of tragic beauty. Although it's marketed as New Age - and I supposed that is the closest genre label - it is more Neo-Classical and melancholy than most New Age recordings. The use of key changes, unusual time signatures, and other variational devices makes this work involving, not merely background music. Its internal intensity, however, does not detract from its healing essence, its sense of inner joy. The second is 13 Masks. This project came out of discussions about the role subconscious plays in creativity. I used my illustration of 13 Masks to inspire songs combining ragtime, jazz and avant-garde classical, but tried to let my subconscious lead the way, creating phrases and variations that pleased something deep inside (not the tiny voice of my first composition teacher). I am very proud of the outcome.For more details, see Tobin Mueller's Recordings... |
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| Song of Myself / Solo voice & piano... | |||
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 Song of Myself - voice/piano - Tobin's favorite cover songs, reinterpretted. Intimate, heartfelt, devistatingly honest music. Complete lyrics and song notes are linked from Tobin's Song of Myself project page. Ballads, blues, showtunes, folk rock, jazz - the music of Tobin's roots. These are songs he's song for decades, songs that have evolved and matured with him. New additions to the Great American Songbook.
"American Tune" by Paul Simon. "Blackbird" by Paul McCartney. Bob Dylan's "Dignity." A Joni Mitchell and an Elton John medly. "Being Alive" from Company (Stephen Sondheim). "Impossible Dream" from Man of la Mancha. "Oh Danny Boy." "Frozen Man" by James Taylor. Many more, plus two original songs by Tobin Mueller. A moving and meaningful compilation. Songs from a life well lived. Album released July 13th, 2012. |
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| A Bit Of Light / Alternative Rock... | |||
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 A progressive folk / cross-genre collection of songs I've been accumulating for a decade, A Bit Of Light includes some of my favorite collaborations with saxophonists, fiddle players and guitarists, mixing jazz, bluegrass, tango and folk-rock. World renown violinist Entcho Todorov, saxophonists Danny McCaslin and Woody Mankowski, and guitarist John Luper provide fabulous highlights.The CD comes with a digital booklet in PDF format: Download the Digital Booklet here! (click to view in browser, right-click to download to desktop) For more details, see Tobin Mueller's Recordings... • A Bit Of Light on CDBaby • A Bit Of Light iTunes |
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| Audiocracy / Progressive Rock... | |||
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See: Audiocracy: Revolution's Son for latest band info.
 Ever since I first listened to Yes, I have been enthralled with progressive rock. Using the Internet, I collaborated with players from around the world. We put tracks together piece by piece, a whole different way to record, but it was very rewarding: the music is inventive and driving! The album was well reviewed in Progessive and other leading prog mags. The CD inculdes a collection of great arwork illustrating each song by Hovakimian Anoushavan. Please check it out. Tobin Mueller: organs, synths, pianos, drum programming, backing vocals Twon: vocals, bass, acoustic guitar Bob Piper: electric guitar, guitar synth Darren Chapman: electric guitar Tadashi Togawa: guitars Rob Thurman: drums • Audiocracy on CDBaby • Audiocracy on iTunes |
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| For Purchase... | |||
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• Tobin on CDBaby • Tobin on iTunes • • Member: ASCAP, Dramatists Guild (NYC). |
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