Part of a remastering of 5 volumes to show the width, depth and breadth of his career, keyboardist/composer Tobin Mueller releases collection of music that is divided between progressive rock with vocals and fusioned jazz instrumentals. Hang on tight!
The first section has Mueller on keyboards and Hammond B3 with a cast that includes Scott Rockenfield/dr, Darren Chapman-Paul Nelson/g Bob Piper/g-synth, Carl Fischer/tp and Donny McCaslin–Sal Giorgianni/ts for starters. With the big beat, many of the songs, such as “Speak Truth To Power” and “Rebellion Is A Lullaby” sounds like vintage Deep Purple with macho vocals by Mueller and his son Anton, and hammering Hammond. Some synthy pulse propels pieces like “Hold On To The Thread of Love” has G Force intensity, and “Bring The Fire” is vintage 80s techno pop.
The jazzier section sounds like a mix of Weather Report and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, with Mueller rocking on “Prestidigitation” and creating layers of keyboards on “Contemporary Insanity”. Churchy organ pipes grace “Chaos Is A Ladder” and the moods get tropical with some hip bass work on “Ascent Of Awe”, with oodles of gurgles on the dark “Let The Rumpus Begin” and pretty tones for “Toyland Fantasy”. A sonic kaleidoscope!
Here’s a nifty interview of Tobin to help you learn more about this musical mind: