Rain Bather • Jazz Album
Jump to: The Ensemble • Track List
Combining outstanding players in a variety of settings, RAIN BATHER captures fabulous performances on this extra long play CD. A breadth of styles find play within these totally hip arrangements of Tobin Mueller's innovative compositions.
NOTE: Most of these tracks have been remastered and reissued under the title "What Survives". Still others have been edited and rearranged under the title "What Survives - Radio Edits". Please see the What Survives webpage and the Best of Tobin Mueller compilation series for more details.
Many of these tunes are jazz renditions of songs from Tobin's Broadway show Creature (based on Frankenstein). The instensity of storytelling remains active in the arrangements, as well as the singable lyricism of each intertwining melody. These recordings transcend the original songs, however, living and breathing as completely unique jazz performances. As Dr. Frankenstein would say, "I'ts alive!"
RAIN BATHER moves adroitly between contemporary jazz, progressive big band, fusion, acid and funk. Three tracks (1, 2, 4) employ a progressive octet; two tracks use a septet (8, 10). The rest of the tracks build on a core quartet of organ, piano, drums and bass, adding in one or two extras voices (sax, trumpet, flute, clarinet and/or violin), forging an ever-changing variety of colors and tones. (Tracks 1, 2, 11, 12 have received FM airplay.)
As front man to a fluid ensemble (see below), Tobin's progressive rock organ (AUDIOCRACY) fits perfectly into these jazz settings, providing sagacious accompaniment and melodic direction, but never dominating. Tobin's nephew, Chris, provides elegant acoustic piano accompaniments with plenty of space for memorable solos by the horn players.
There are so many great moments on this 80 minute extended play CD, but a shout out has to go to Woody Mankowski's astounding soprano sax solo in Cliff's Edge, his multi-sax layering in Windowshade; Dane Richeson for his drum solo on Finding No Path; the retro-acid tripping flute Sal Giorgianni plays in Seven Buttons On A Nehru Jacket; and the old school clarinet stylings of Bill Barner in Secret Of Life. Carl Fischer's trumpet solos in Acid Hopping absolutely grooves, employing a whole collection of mutes and plungers. Martyn Kember-Smith's celtic fiddle provides a happy change of pace in Caught In The Current. (Several of these players also appear on Tobin's solo album A BIT OF LIGHT and subsequent jazz recordings THE MULLER'S WHEEL and COME IN FUNKY.)
Although most of the album is up tempo, two mellow ballads include breathtaking sax solos: River Runs Through Me (Woody Mankowski on soprano) and Waltzing Night Into Day (Doug Schneider on tenor). The interplay between piano and organ in Must Go Back also deserves a special mention. Through it all, Dane Richeson's percussion permeates and exults; his years studying everywhere from Paris to the Sudan come into play.
This ensemble never treads water, never back pedals. Everything is full forward. A truly entertaining and inventive collection of tunes. This is music with a fresh spin, played by a band that communicates, that creates musical conversations (not just stand-alone solos). Listeners of the following artists will love it: Brecker Brothers, Ed Palermo Big Band (especially renditions of Frank Zappa's stuff), The Muffins, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Chic Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Schofield, and Medeski Martin & Wood.
Tobin Mueller - B3 organ, electric piano, composer
Chris Mueller - acoustic piano
Jeff Cox - acoustic bass
Dane Richeson - drums & percussion
Woody Mankowski - soprano saxophone
Tom Washatka - tenor saxophone
Doug Schneider - tenor sax
Ken Schaphorst - flugelhorn
Bob Levy - trumpet
Sal Giorgianni - flute
Bill Barner - clarinet, additional sax
McBoy - electric guitars
All songs by Tobin Mueller.
©2008-2009 Tobin Mueller.
Although it is the current rage to purchase music as downloads, the packaging of this CD is particularly pleasing. The disc resembles an old 45 record, complete with vinyl and grooves. The fade-to-scratches on the final track (mimicking a 78 RPM) aids this illusion. Worth purchasing just to be able to hold in your hands. Available at CDBaby.
* Recorded at Lawrence University, Larry Darling engineer
** Recorded ar Saxe Studios, Scott Saxe engineer
*** Recorded at ArtsForge Studios (Tobin Mueller)
*Mixed & mastered by Sound City Studio (L.A.)
All other tracks mastered by Audio Magic Recording Studios
† based on music from "Creature," an Off-Broadway musical by Tobin Mueller
©1998 Tobin Mueller
