One of the most diverse and talented jazz composers today presents a career spanning 5-volume compilation. Every track delivers. Contemporary jazz at its finest."
Best of Tobin Mueller presents his best contemporary jazz, funk, fusion, and vocal recordings. Volume 1 includes his best original jazz recordings; Volume 2 reinterprets the greatest jazz standards; Volume 3 highlights his progressive rock jazz-fusion forays; Volume 4 is a collection of his best original vocal works; Volume 5 focuses on his chill jazz, new age and late night offerings. All tracks have been remastered, some have been remixed and edited, many contain additional instruments layered in, a few are completely new versions released here for the first time.
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Tobin Mueller composes some of the freshest, well-crafted jazz tunes of the era. He adroitly combines post bop, fusion, funk and progressive Big Band in entertaining and unique ways. Woody Mankowski's skill on saxophone is a joy to experience, as are the contributions of bass legend Ron Carter. A highly anticipated collection..."
Many of the selections come from his three long-play double albums Standard Deviations, What Survives and Wonder. Remixed versions from his recent recording Prestidigitation are also included. Older recordings are represented, as well, such as Come In Funky (featuring Ron Carter), The Muller's Wheel (featuring Woody Mankowski) and others. A few tracks are new, never released on any previous album.
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Nothing short of excellent. Tobin Mueller, who has performed across the entire spectrum of jazz, combines genres to recreate a fabulous assortment of jazz classics."
"One of the many great things about Tobin’s music", writes U.K reviewer Dave Franklin, "is that it is always busy. Not to the point of being overly complex or unnecessarily ornate, space and atmosphere are vital unseen instruments in his creative process, but built on deftly compiled sonic layers, tones and textures interlaced to create satisfying arrangements. If there is a word that means both eclectic yet perfectly controlled and also adventurous yet familiar, then Tobin Mueller’s music would be its perfect definition."
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Snatches energy out of the universe and tosses it around like a meteor shower! Fusion jazz at its best. It reminds me of the days when Herbie Hancock’s Headhunter album was blowing our minds. It wreaks of that kind of inspiration."
Tobin Mueller has released over 35 albums in his career, written a dozen musical plays, composed over 500 songs. He's composed for Broadway, film, ballet, youth education, video games. He has recorded with Grammy winners Dave Brubeck, Ron Carter, Michael Hedges, Donny McCaslin, Jon Anderson (from Yes), Brian Welch ("Head" from Korn), Hall of Fame blues guitarist Paul Nelson, as well as Grammy nominees Dane Richeson (Blue Note Records), Ken Schaphorst, Entcho Todorov, Janet Planet and more. His albums have included contributions from drummers Scott Rockenfield (Queensrÿche), Lamar Moore (Lettuce), Mike Nappi (J. Geils Band) and countless other musicians from around the globe. Early in his career, he had the honor of playing with Maynard Ferguson.
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Extremely impressive body of work from a one-of-a-kind artist. Joyous. Soulful. Vibrant. Sophisticated. Fascinating."
Note: This collection will not include Mueller's extensive solo piano recordings. These will be released in the upcoming 2-volume series: Tobin Mueller: At The Piano. Read the 2023 interview by Kathy Parson about this 5-volume compilation and Tobin's long career: Tobin Mueller: A Restless Mind
remastered - feat. Ron Carter, Woody Mankowski (original version on What Survives)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Jazz, funk, hip hop and bop combine, featuring jazz legend Ron Carter."
• YouTube Music Video
extended version, previously unreleased - feat. Woody Mankowski (shorter version on The Muller's Wheel)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "A seamless series of variations. A display of skill worth checking out."
• YouTube Music Video
remastered - feat. Bob Levy, Woody Mankowski (original version on Rain Bather)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Mueller's nonet is in full swing mode. Lighter than air."
• YouTube Music Video
“
Fun and funky, sweet toned and creative, tunes woven together like they were for The Brecker Brothers. Mueller plays more angles than a musical Rubik's Cube. Highly recommended."
The Players:
Tobin Mueller: acoustic piano, electric pianos, organ, vintage synths
Woody Mankowski: soprano, alto, tenor saxes
Bill Barner: clarinet; Sal Giorgianni: flute
Dane Richeson: drums, percussion
Acoustic bass: Jeff Cox; electric bass: Butch Taylor
Guitar: Fran Dagostino, Paul Nelson, Richie Hart
Additional acoustic piano: Chris Mueller
Additional sax: Doug Schneider, Tom Washatka, Sal Giorganni, David DeJesus
Additional brass: Bob Levy, Carl Fischer: trumpet; Ken Shaphorst: flugelhorn
Additional drums: Joel Rosenblat, Isaiah Schmidt
Additional hand percussion: Ruben de Ruiter
Featured violin: Martyn Kember-Smith
Featured acoustic bass: Ron Carter
Featured vocals: Angela Hope
An amazing jazz amalgam that 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, awesome..."
Inventive, energetic, joyous virtuosity elevates each track. Paul Nelson’s electric guitar sizzles. Woody Mankowski’s saxophone soars. Drumming is stellar. Fresh, clean, crisp. You will not view these tunes the same after hearing Mueller’s thoughtfully crafted takes."
If you’re a fan of the likes of Weather Report and Return to Forever, keyboardist and arranger Tobin Mueller is going to be your buddy. Volume 2 is hip, swinging fusion, lit up, big and bold. Goes beyond Head Hunting: a world of kaleidoscopic covers. Highly recommended.”
A great album. Jazz taken to its broadest, highest & deepest potential. Tobin Mueller has set the benchmark. Play it, and play it again, and again, and again…”
by Stevie Wonder; remastered - feat. Paul Nelson, David DeJesus, Mikie Martel, Ruben de Ruiter, Isaiah Schmidt (original version on Prestidigitation)
• YouTube Music Video
by Herbie Hancock; remastered - feat. David DeJesus, Paul Nelson, Ruben de Ruiter (original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Fabulous new arrangement."
• YouTube Music Video
by Joe Zawinul / Jon Anderson; remastered - feat. Woody Mankowski, Lamar Moore (original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Could be the best Birdland cover ever recorded."
Featured on That New Hype: "Marvelously seamless medley! Epic and fun."
• YouTube Music Video
by Frank Zappa; remastered - feat. Mikie Martel, David DeJesus, Paul Nelson, Isaiah Schmidt (original version on Prestidigitation)
• YouTube Music Video
by Lennon-McCartney; new version, previously unreleased - feat. Woody Mankowski, Lamar Moore, Kenny Cash, Mike Nappi (older version on Standard Deviations)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Inventive, moody, powerful. Excellent build, climax, denouement."
• YouTube Music Video
by Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka; remastered - feat. Paul Nelson, David DeJesus, Isaiah Schmidt (original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzVideo of the Day: "High energy, fresh arrangement. Spectacular."
• YouTube Music Video
by Sly Stone; remastered - feat. Paul Nelson, Mikie Martel, Isaiah Schmidt (original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Hip, sleek funk-jazz."
• YouTube Music Video
by John Coltrane; remastered - feat. Bill Barner, Ruben de Ruiter (original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "Inventive, romantic jazz waltz."
• YouTube Music Video
by Lenny White / Chick Corea; remastered - feat. Woody Mankowski, Emily Rohm, Ruben de Ruiter, Isaiah Schmidt original version on Prestidigitation)
Featured on All About JazzVideo of the Day: "Sensuous, polyphonic jazz vocal medley. Magical."
• YouTube Music Video
by Hoagy Carmichael; new version - feat. Woody Mankowski (original version on Standard Deviations)
Featured on Industry Reviewz: "Transcends the Smooth Jazz genre. An oasis of calm on an album of restless diversity."
• YouTube Music Video
“
What binds this diverse music into a seamless album is a group of amazing musicians sharing the unbridled joy of making music together. It swings and soars, rocks and rolls, often all but dancing out of the music player. More than impressive!"
I’ve long been a fan of Tobin Mueller’s virtuoso piano playing and compositional genius, but hearing his weathered voice, compromised by illness, uncovers yet another level of interpretive skill. Wonderful.”
A symphonic whirlwind of prog passion! Led by the massive keyboards of Tobin Mueller, dense harmonies and contributions from the likes of Scott Rockenfield (Queensrÿche) and guitarist Bob Piper (Pleiades), this is a true combination of energy and poetry. The music flows from idea to idea like birds winging from tree to tree. You will return to this collection time and time again.”
Hang on tight! A collection of progressive rock (with vocals) and fusion jazz instrumentals. Big beats, macho vocals, hammering Hammond, synths that propel sounds passed the likes of vintage Deep Purple with a mix of Weather Report and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. A sonic kaleidoscope!"
- George W. Harris - Jazz Weekly
remastered - feat. Anton Mueller, Darren Chapman, Scott Rockenfield (original version on Wonder)
Featured on Grind Louder: "Another hit from Tobin Mueller!"
• YouTube Music Video
remastered - feat. Woody Mankowski, Dane Richeson, Chris Mueller (original version on Radio Edits)
• YouTube Music Video
“
Tobin's passionate, poetic lyrics are the icing on the cake. Bold, energetic and powerful. Music to be enjoyed with full attention!"
- Kathy Parsons
“
‘Volume 3: Prog Fusion’ pushes everything to more profound places, higher, beyond the normal limits of music-making. Twenty-Two tracks redefining what prog is, what it might be… due to the album’s sheer adventurousness and exploratory nature. You are left with a masterful array of music that takes you on unexpected journeys to the heart, to the nature of possibility and potential. An album forged of classical grace and rock groove. Pop accessibility and jazz complexity. An album that disregards rules and demarcations. A truly post-genre suite of music!”
remastered - feat. Paul Nelson, David DeJesus, Isaiah Schmidt (original version on Prestidigitation)
• Featured on Stereo Bangers: "A truly impressive work of art!"
• Featured on All About JazzSong of the Day: "High energy, virtuosic, fabulous multi-meter, captures the insanity of the contemporary world."
• YouTube Music Video
The Players:
Tobin Mueller: acoustic piano, electric pianos, organ, vintage synths, basses, vocals
Anton Mueller: vocals, electric bass, acoustic guitar
Guitars: Bob Piper, Darren Chapman, Paul Nelson, Tadashi Togawa, Thor Oliverson, Jim Edwards, Norman Goodman, Lennon Loveday, Steve Stone
Drums: Scott Rockenfield, Rob Thurman, Isaiah Schmidt
Saxes: Donny McCaslin, David DeJesus, Woody Mankowski
Trumpet: Carl Fischer, Mikie Martel
Flute: Sal Giorgianni
Hand percussion: Ruben de Ruiter
Spoken word: Gregory DelTufo, Suzanne DelTufo
Additional bass: Thor Oliverson
Additional vocals: Emily Rohm, Jessica Flood, Tim Cunningham, Woody Mankowski, Supa Manta
Like Shakespeare's Sonnets, these songs are the most personal and innermost expressions of Tobin Mueller. The listener is introduced to Tobin as poet and playwright as well as Tobin the musician and composer. Literally in his own voice, we are privy to his thoughts, feelings, and observations about life. The recordings intimately accentuate his clear and expressive voice. The order in which they are presented adds to the enjoyment. While his solo piano compositions may be the heart of his artistry, these songs articulate his emotions in ways that are close and revealing. Listening, you will get to know him like longtime friends do. An evocative and moving experience.”
- William Bletzinger, graduate of Carnegie Mellon and Yale Schools of Drama and director of Mueller's first play
written in 2000, recorded at my apartment in NYC;
remastered - feat. John Luper, Donny McCaslin (originally released on A Bit Of Light)
• YouTube Music Video
written in 2001 for a film score made entirely of tangos;
remastered - feat. Entcho Todorov (originally released on A Bit Of Light)
• YouTube Music Video
written in 2004 to jam with members of MacJams.com;
remastered - feat. Fran Dagostino, Bill Barner (originally released on A Bit Of Light)
• YouTube Music Video
written in 2002 with my nephew Chris Mueller;
newly arranged, performed & recorded in 2023 - feat. Mikie Martel, Ugo Rossi, Kenny Cash
• YouTube Music Video
written in 2006, lyrics by my wife, Suzanne DelTufo;
remastered - feat. Martyn Kember-Smith, Anton Mueller (longer version on A Bit Of Light)
• YouTube Music Video
written in 2003, dedicated to my brother-in-law;
previously unreleased - feat. Darren Chapman on guitar, Ron Carter on bass
• YouTube Music Video
“
Tobin Mueller makes albums with a lot of depth, forged of deftly wrought musical lines, albums with sonic intrigue and rewards garnered from numerous replays. Vocals is the album where the lyrical component adds one more layer to enjoy, and for reviewers like myself, one more level to explore in his already intricate and intriguing music. Soul searching, social commentary, intense personal experiences, music as redemption, singing as celebration, all explored brilliantly. A subtle and fluid conversation.
composed in 1975 under the title "Autumn Oh Autumn"; rewritten in 2001 following 9/11, dedicated to my daughter;
remastered (from September 11 Project)
• YouTube Music Video
original version written in 1983 under the title "Falling", rewritten in 2001, retitled in 2019;
new version (earlier mix on Wonder)
• YouTube Music Video
The Players:
Tobin Mueller: vocals, acoustic piano, electric pianos, organs, accordian, nylon string guitar, harp, synths, basses, various percussion
Anton Mueller: backing vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin
Mikie Martel: trumpet, flugelhorn, saxes
John Luper & Darren Chapman: electric guitar
John Selvia: electric fretless bass
Ruben de Ruiter: hand percussion
Ugo Rossi: drums
Featured sax: Donny McCaslin, Woody Mankowski
Featured clarinet: Bill Barner
Featured acoustic guitar: Michael Hedges
Featured violin: Entcho Todorov, Martyn Kember-Smith
Featured acoustic Bass: Ron Carter, Kenny Cash
Additional backing vocals: Johnny Gray
Hip, late night offerings of his best chill jazz, with a sprinkling of other jazz-inflected genres. Restful yet full of emotional impact. Calming yet thought-provoking. Mueller's arrangements entertain as they inspire. Fabulous saxophone contributions from
Woody Mankowski. Playful acoustic bass from legend Ron Carter. Elegant keyboards by Mueller. A true delight. Serene, alluring, artistic, engaging."
Excellent final volume displaying Mueller’s calmer side. Highly emotional yet serene. From stunningly beautiful to playfully buoyant. Music for the thinking listener."
The multi-colored musical palate of keyboardist Tobin Mueller has the five volume “Best Of” coming to a mellow close, with music to “chill” by. A wide range of creative contemplations that resonate with a resounding blue pulse.
The rich mix of jazz standards, originals and creative covers makes for an additional color of glass to put into Mueller’s rich mosaic of a catalogue. I’m getting in line!"
- George W. Harris - Jazz Weekly
a medley of tunes by Joni Mitchell, mainly "Blue"; new version - feat. Woody Mankowski, Ruben de Ruiter (original version released on Come In Funky)
• YouTube Music Video
"The Way You Look Tonight" by Jerome Kern / "The Nearness of You" by Hoagy Carmichael;
remastered - feat. Mike Nappi (original version on Standard Deviations)
• YouTube Music Video
I was going to say that this album shows us another side to Tobin Mueller, but after reviewing his previous albums, that sentence hardly does him justice. His willingness, not to mention his deftness and talent, to rework and reinterpret other people’s music, as well as his own, and do so in a way that brings something new to the table, is brave and clever. We have seen how great he is at building layers of tone and texture, deftly interlocking sounds, and creating wonderfully ornate musical weaves. Now, we see how good he is with the opposite. With space, understatement and restraint.
But what I love about Tobin Mueller the most is his understanding that songs, especially his own, are journeys rather than destinations, and there is no way of knowing when or where that journey ends. Such an attitude means he is always ready and willing to add the next step to the story of a song. To have it pass through new sonic realms and unexpected genres, to have it change and evolve over the years. I wish more artists would be this adventurous, this adaptable and this un-precious about their music.”
remastered - feat. Woody Mankowski, Chris Mueller, Dane Richeson; from Tobin's musical Creature (originally released on What Survives)
• YouTube Music Video
remastered - feat. Woody Mankowski, Chris Mueller, Jeff Cox, Dane Richeson; from Tobin's musical Creature (originally released on Radio Edits)
• YouTube Music Video
Fascinating and very enjoyable listening experience that clearly demonstrates what an accomplished and versatile artist Tobin really is. A very satisfying conclusion to this major project, sure to please Tobin's longtime fans as well as those who are discovering his music now."
