ejazznews REVIEW: Rob Mullins Standards and More

REVIEW Reprinted from ejazznews Oct 2006

Rob Mullins Live: Standards & More
Rob Mullins

Available through CD Baby and iTunes.

CD Review: http://www.ejazznews.com/
By John Gilbert (ejazznews staff writer)

This CD, recorded live at Steamer's jazz club in Los Angeles, is due to
hit the streets in October. I have to tell you that this is one swinging
record. On the first tune "Bb Major Etude" Jimmy Roberts on tenor
saxophone swings like a trapeze artist. There are no mindless notes in
his solo, his message is clear and concise and the ideas flow forth like
a horn of plenty. Pianist Mullins follows suit with an equally brilliant
soliloquy.
"Moanin'" This tried and true tune is given a breath of fresh air. Jimmy
Roberts is in his blues bag with a sound as rich as an 1849 mother lode.
Roberts is not afraid to play and he jumps on this tune like it was
something good to eat. Rob Mullins dances across the keyboard with
controlled fury and he gets it all in his solo.

"J.R.'s Blues" Excitement is the name of the game on this number. Jimmy
Roberts talks about Jacquet and he does it most eloquently in a manner
befitting Mr. J..... Roberts is a true sax master and I wonder why I
haven't heard more of him. Rob Mullins struts along confidently as he rocks
this number like he owns it. Great effort by all.

This ensemble is a perfect fit for the tunes that they have chosen.

David Levray on bass and drummer Evan Stone are a perfect fit to augment
this sizzling band.
5 Stars

Product Details

Audio CD (January 28, 2006)
Original Release Date: January 28, 2006
Label: Rob Mullins Entertainment (RME)

Personnel

Rob Mullins - Piano
David Levray - Bass
Jimmy Roberts - Sax
Evan Stone - Drums

Track Listing

1. Introduction by James Janisse KKJZ Radio - 1:05 Listen

2. Bb Major Etude - 7:11 Listen

3. Angel Eyes - 9:10 Listen

4. Fur Elise - 2:36 Listen

5. Moanin' - 6:46 Listen

6. In A Sentimental Mood - 9:31 Listen

7. Giant Steps - 3:52 Listen

8. When I Fall In Love - 8:35 Listen

9. Monk's Ghost - 5:29 Listen

10. Island Girls - 7:15 Listen

11. J.R.'s Blues - 7:25 Listen

Liner Notes

ROB MULLINS STANDARDS & MORE
Liner Notes By Scott Yanow-All Music Guide

During his productive career as a pianist, composer,
bandleader and educator, Rob Mullins has performed
in many different settings and styles.

His versatile approach has allowed him to erase
the artificial boundary line between "contemporary"
and "traditional" jazz, sounding like himself in all idioms.

Standards & More, recorded at Orange County's top jazz
club Steamer's, is arguably the pianist's strongest
"straight ahead" jazz recording to date.
Certainly fans of bebop will enjoy this outing, but so too
will Mullins' longtime followers, for his wit, swing and creativity
are very much in evidence.

"While I have made a lot of recordings that were live
in the studio," says Mullins, "this album is my first one
live in front of an audience in a club. You can hear the
glasses clicking and the excitement in the room."

Standards & More has six familiar songs given fresh
treatments plus four of the pianist's originals.

Mullins played drums for three years starting when
he was 11 and traveled with a rock band called The Barons.
But due to some health problems, he switched to the piano
when he was 14. By the time he was 16, he was leading
a jazz combo and making a name for himself in the Denver
area. Mullins attended the University of Northern Colorado,
studied with George Russell in New York and in Denver started
his own record company, RMC Records. Since moving back to
Southern California, he has become a fixture in local clubs,
continued recording highly enjoyable CDs, and has developed
into a well- respected and busy educator who has thus far
written four books. He has also been composing for the Mullins
Masterworks Series, classical music adaptations written
in a modern way.

In addition to his work with his own groups, Rob Mullins has
worked with a notable list of major musicians including Branford
Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Ronnie Laws, the late Spike Robinson,
Brian Bromberg, the Crusaders (in pianist Joe Sample's former
spot for three years), the Rippingtons, Diane Schuur and Dave
Grusin in addition to taking a recent tour of Russia with Hubert Laws.

For the future, Rob Mullins wants to "expand the fan base of
good music around the world and stimulate interest in jazz
as a uniquely American art form."

When one considers how much fun Standards & More is,
balancing accessible grooves and melodies with spontaneous
creativity, it is obvious that the pianist is uniquely qualified
to achieve his goals."

-Scott Yanow

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