Rob
Mullins STORYTELLER: The Pianist's Journey-2008 Release
"STORYTELLER is one of Rob Mullins’ most
intriguing, heartfelt and successful recordings in a career full
of accomplishments."-Scott Yanow
Rob Mullins-piano, drums, keyboards, composer, producer, main
performer.
Larry Antonino-acoustic bass.
Available through SPOTIFY
Amazon and Apple
Music
Grab the official industry ONE
SHEET
REVIEW by
SCOTT YANOW
Rob Mullins has
experienced a great deal during his productive life. Born in
Oklahoma and raised in Denver, he started on piano when he was 14
and was already playing professionally two years later. Since then
he has become an important force in Southern California and around
the world as a musician, bandleader, composer and educator. Along
the way he has worked with Branford Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Ronnie
Laws, the late Spike Robinson, the Crusaders (filling Joe Sample's
spot for three years), the Rippingtons, Diane Schuur, Dave Grusin
and Hubert Laws in addition to his own groups. He had previously
led 16 albums and blurred the artificial boundary between
“traditional” and “contemporary” jazz, R&B, and funk sounding
like himself in all idioms.
Even with all of that in his resume, Rob Mullins had never
recorded an album like STORYTELLER
before. While there are hints of funk and sections of
straightahead jazz, many of the selections display the strong
influence of Western classical music, the originals utilize fresh
and new chord changes, and the focus throughout is on Mullins’
acoustic piano. Some of the pieces are quite introspective while
others feature the high energy that one normally associates with
Rob Mullins. One hears another
different side of the pianist, as his sensitivity and emotions
come to the surface, along with his usual sense of fun.
Storyteller utilizes a
two-man trio. In addition to piano, Mullins is heard on drums and
hand percussion. Originally a drummer, Mullins had permanently
switched to piano by the time he reached college although he did
play some drums on ‘Samba’ from his important 1984 project Soulscape. “It was a big
challenge for me after many years off, getting my chops back up to
playing level in 2007. But I figured that it would be as fast a
process for me to learn to play well enough to play on the new
album (because I knew exactly what I wanted the drum parts to be)
than if I hired someone and had to write out all of the charts and
teach them the style that I wanted on each tune.”
On acoustic bass is Larry Antonino who Mullins
played with regularly when they were members of Ronnie Laws’ band in the
1990s. Normally heard on electric bass, Antonino displays a great
deal of warmth on the upright bass during his interplay with the
pianist which sometimes borders on the telepathic.
The opening original composition “Storyteller”
combines together an unusual set of genres. Parts of it feel like Russian
classical music, there is a definite Middle Eastern influence
not heard before on Rob Mullins’ recordings, and the chords and
bass lines are quite modern, yet it also borrows a
portion from one of his songs originally released on Soulscape for
the conclusion.
“Escher’s
Etude” is a musical depiction of the famous graphic
artist M.C. Escher’s drawing “The Staircase.” “That drawing shows
stairways that go up and down simultaneously. That is how I feel
the melody line is in this piece, with the angularity of it moving
against the bass line.” “Escher’s Etude” has a one-chord vamp that
alternates with a complex bridge that hints at John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps.”
Since the bridge reappears in unpredictable spots, it keeps
listeners guessing.
“Prime
Time” has a catchy melody but also a unique bass line and
unusual chord changes. It is the type of upbeat tune that draws
listeners in.
“Sleep
Sweet” is an emotional lullaby performed by Mullins as a
piano solo. It sounds very much
like a classical piece in the style of Beethoven,
particularly in the patterns played by his left hand. While the
first half of the piece sticks to the melody, during the second
half, Mullins improvises over the chords without altering the
piece’s mood. The pianist had never recorded an example of
improvising in the classical idiom before.
“Back
In The Day,” a struttin’ trio number, is a nostalgic look
by Rob Mullins at the 1980s and 90s, the music scene of the time
and the changes that have taken place since then. “In this piece,
I pay tribute to all of the people who are still out there from
then who are still listening to my music. It is a fresh twist on
the old me.”
“Run No
More” is a cinematic piece in which one can imagine a
forest, along with elements of danger, pain, frustration, suspense
and ultimately relief and exhaustion. This intriguing work begins
with a mysterious piano riff, the tension builds throughout the
dramatic performance and the suspense does not let up until near
its conclusion when it resolves into a sense of relief.
“Tears For America” is an
improvisation for piano and bass. It uses four bars from “Run No More” but is otherwise
quite spontaneous. “Larry uses a really unique bass that has an
additional high C string, I’d never seen one like that before, and
we play off of each other. I wanted to capture some of the
conflict, darkness, despair and drama that our country is
currently going through.” The music is a little reminiscent of the
type of records put out by ECM in the 1980s, featuring such
players as pianists Keith Jarrett and Bobo Stenson and bassists
Eberhard Weber and Palle Danielson. The thoughtful interplay by
Mullins and Antonino is a bit mournful, fitting the song’s title.
In contrast, “In The Sun”
is a joyful piece with a celebratory theme, an infectious piano
pattern, some high energy playing, and a very rare Rob Mullins
drum solo which is taken entirely on the snare drum.
“Scarborough” was originally a
centuries-old folk song before Simon & Garfunkle added lyrics
and made it into a pop standard.
Inspired by Hubert Laws’ adaptation of classical themes on his
CTI albums, Mullins put the piece in 9/4 time, changed
the key, modulated to a different key in the second chorus, and
added an entirely new section for the solos.
“The Smile” is dedicated
to the look on Mona Lisa’s face in the famous Leonard Da Vinci painting. It
has a thoughtful melody, some picturesque improvising, and becomes
darker as it evolves before becoming tender at the end. Much of
Mullins’ playing on this piece is out-of-tempo and sounds as if he
is thinking aloud, revealing some of his deepest thoughts in his
music.
Storyteller concludes with “Family,”
a nostalgic and somewhat wistful solo piano improvisation that
musically depicts the good and the bad sides of relationships.
In recent times, Rob Mullins has played gigs in Southern
California, run his music school and publishing company, and
toured Russia in early 2007 with flutist Hubert Laws. As of this
writing, he is returning to Russia to perform his own music.
“With STORYTELLER, I’m
reaching out to a much broader audience, particularly young
classical students who might not know about the amazing world of
jazz. Pianistically, it was the greatest challenge of my career to
play these songs for the music is hard.”
STORYTELLER
is one of Rob Mullins’ most intriguing, heartfelt and successful
recordings in a career full of accomplishments. One looks forward
to him taking this colorful and unique music out into the world."
Scott
Yanow-jazz book author and historian based in LA, CA
REVIEWS
Jazz Pianist Rob Mullins New CD A Musical Feast!
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2008
"Storyteller is an expert blending of jazz, classical, world, film
score, and new age flavors. Besides having great compositional
skills, Rob has an incredible technique and command of the piano
and it is apparent throughout this CD.
There is a great amount of variety with up tempo barn burners and
peaceful, quiet, reflective moments that will touch you in a deep
and meaningful way. One of my favorites is the very beautiful
slow ballad "Sleep Sweet" which has a great melody with a
little soulful J.S Bach thrown in as well...( would love to hear
Rob record this with a Tenor sax playing this very touching melody
with Rob on the piano!)
Another outstanding track is "Back In The Day" which is vintage
Rob Mullins straight ahead Jazz with bluesy twists and superb jazz
piano soloing! "In The Sun" is an up tempo gospel/jazz tinged
pedal point offering reminiscent of some of Keith Jarrett's
gospel/jazz compositions. Storyteller contains much to groove and
chew on and Rob shares his "story" in a most unique and
imaginative way! - David Arivett (Keyboardist/composer and founder
of the CJA Network)
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2008
Rob Mullin's STORYTELLER CD is one of the best musical
compositions I've ever heard. His ability to keep evolving
through his music is inspiring. This particular album has a
classical touch to it while Mullins remains true to his jazz
roots. The classical influence is especially evident in the piece,
"Sleep Sweet". Still, every other song invokes the feeling of pure
fascination! He blends the two musical genres together in such an
extraordinary way that the listener is swept away into a world of
beauty. Mullins is doing what he was surely born to do and that is
to compose and play great music. I believe history will portray
him as one of the most important musicians of our time!
-Cheryl Hullin
3 people found this helpful
I've been a fan of Rob Mullins for many years, and Storyteller is
his best work in a long time -- perhaps his best work ever.
Download, listen and enjoy!
6 people found this helpful
I've always known Rob Mullins to be a great live performer.
STORYTELLER confirms him to also be a great composer.
A long-time local favorite in the L.A. live music scene, I've
watched him and his various bands rock the house doing mostly
covers and standards but also a few original pieces countless
times. Close to a year ago, I picked up his STANDARDS & MORE
album on iTunes and I used to consider that album to be the
MUST-HAVE album if you wanted to hear this man do his thing.
STORYTELLER totally raises the bar. It blows the doors off of
everything else I've ever heard from Rob Mullins. The music
crosses over geographic boundaries, musical boundaries, every kind
of boundary and shatters it. Somehow he brings it all together to
one universal concept that he clearly sets out in the liner notes.
I love that he put himself out there and built every track around
a key idea like a traditional concept album should.
You'll get something new out of it each and every time you play
the tracks as you come to realize and appreciate how much thought
and consideration went into every single element that drives the
story. First rate production top to bottom. STORYTELLER is a
complete success in every way I can describe it. I highly
recommend it.
5 people found this helpful
Another exciting CD by Rob Mullins. I've followed Rob for many
years, at his gigs, at his website, waiting anxiously for his next
musical creation, and "Storyteller" doesn't disappoint. Excellent
listening choice.
5 people found this helpful
NOTE: We have not manufactured any copies of this album on CD
since 2008. Any new CD's online available for purchase are
illegally manufactured. If you find used copies on Ebay or Etsy,
bear in mind that not one penny goes to Rob Mullins directly or
indirectly.
CHECK OUT ROB's RADIO
INTERVIEW about Storyteller on the Blake Aaron Radio Show.
THERE ARE TWO VIDEOS of the live band performing "Storyteller"
compositions at Youtube. "Escher's
Etude" and "Prime
Time".
Go Back to Rob's Store/Discography
Page
© Copyright 2008-2023 www.planetmullins.com
Released through Rob Mullins Entertainment copyright
2008-2020 rob mullins publishing (BMI)
