I compiled some memorable moments from the last Michael Mull Octet show, featuring the soloists of the evening. Stay in touch at www.facebook.com/MichaelMullOctet as we near recording our first album in February 2014!
Michael Mull Octet
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The Works
Wanted to share some news blurbs:
- Michael Mull Octet show at the Blue Whale 10/25 went great, with our friends KROM making the first set a memorable one; it was there last show after a few weeks on the road, so they were tight! I'm compiling some video of the Octet from the show and will slap it up here as soon as I can.
- The following weekend, I found myself playing on my Central Coast home turf with Orkestar MEZE, and then up a bit farther in San Jose. Great crowds for both events, much line-dancing and get-downing, trash-talking (in the van), and gracious hosting in both locales. We'll be back, and next time with the new record in tow (due out in early 2014)!
- Speaking of new records, there is going to be a CD release for a quartet led by tenor saxo-blaster Frank Silva (of Octet fame....?) on December 18th at the Blue Whale. The group is currently in name-limbo.
- Speaking of new records (is there a tape-delay in here?), I'm hitting it hard and getting ready to record the Michael Mull Octet early next year. I will be setting up a fan-funding campaign about a month beforehand (January-ish), so if you like us and you know it, clap your hands (over your wallet)! But seriously folks, it's going to be a doozy...stay on top of things here, and like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter if you're into that sort of thing. We love ya!
- Michael Mull Octet show at the Blue Whale 10/25 went great, with our friends KROM making the first set a memorable one; it was there last show after a few weeks on the road, so they were tight! I'm compiling some video of the Octet from the show and will slap it up here as soon as I can.
- The following weekend, I found myself playing on my Central Coast home turf with Orkestar MEZE, and then up a bit farther in San Jose. Great crowds for both events, much line-dancing and get-downing, trash-talking (in the van), and gracious hosting in both locales. We'll be back, and next time with the new record in tow (due out in early 2014)!
- Speaking of new records, there is going to be a CD release for a quartet led by tenor saxo-blaster Frank Silva (of Octet fame....?) on December 18th at the Blue Whale. The group is currently in name-limbo.
- Speaking of new records (is there a tape-delay in here?), I'm hitting it hard and getting ready to record the Michael Mull Octet early next year. I will be setting up a fan-funding campaign about a month beforehand (January-ish), so if you like us and you know it, clap your hands (over your wallet)! But seriously folks, it's going to be a doozy...stay on top of things here, and like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter if you're into that sort of thing. We love ya!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
October Heat
Been off the ol' Blogger for a bit, sorry to be elusive. A quick update of happened and happening:
I got to help out my good friend and Michael Mull Octet bandmate Tim Fischer on a DMA lecture recital as he completes his Doctorate at USC. Luckily, for me that translated to playing great tunes with an even greater band that included Octet bassist Emilio Terranova and the illustrious Joe LaBarbera on drums! Tim's lecture focused on the music of Miles Davis's first great quintet, styles in which Joe is an expert, not to mention being "two degrees of separation" from Miles himself --- it's hard to describe, but playing with a tight group like that is so "easy"!
Beginning at the end of August, I am fortunate to be teaching Jazz Arranging and coach "combo class" at Cal State University Northridge this semester, and it has been a rewarding experience so far. This is my first time teaching in a full classroom setting, so I'm really trying to do it right and give the students a good balance of structure and freedom.
Continuing the higher education trend, the Michael Mull Octet had the pleasure of doing a masterclass at CalArts, where I did my graduate work. This was an excellent experience all around, playing some new and older music and fielding thoughtful questions from both students and faculty. It was especially interesting for me to answer some of their questions, thinking and trying to describe aspects of my music and writing process for the Octet that I had never really sat down and considered, recognizing some of the reasons for my musical choices. Thank you to David Roitstein and Larry Koonse for hookin' it up, and to the students for being fantastic - hope to see you at a show soon!
SPEAKING OF OCTET SHOWS WHATSTHATYOUSAY? Yes, the Michael Mull Octet is going to de-blubber the Blue Whale once again on Friday, October 25th, this time with the help of NYC-based trio KROM. They play some remarkable and fresh music, so this is a date to make if at all possible! Mark them calendars and cave walls, more details to come. In the near October future:
Fri 10/18 - River Song and Walsh Set Trio @ ArtistShare LA (I'm not in this but GO SEE IT and thank me later) 8pm https://www.facebook.com/events/367428453387824/
Sat 10/19 - Orkestar MEZE @ 4th Annual CalArts Wild Beast Concert Series: In other words, a FREE dance party...https://www.facebook.com/events/515180121898672/ 6:00pm
Thurs 10/24 - Mahadev @ The Crest Bar in La Crescenta: also featuring Fumosonic and Bubbeleh, 8pm (Mahadev around 10pm)
Fri 10/25 - Michael Mull Octet and KROM @ Blue Whale: 9pm, 21+ and only $10 for both sets, no minimum. Check back here soon or on facebook for more details.
I got to help out my good friend and Michael Mull Octet bandmate Tim Fischer on a DMA lecture recital as he completes his Doctorate at USC. Luckily, for me that translated to playing great tunes with an even greater band that included Octet bassist Emilio Terranova and the illustrious Joe LaBarbera on drums! Tim's lecture focused on the music of Miles Davis's first great quintet, styles in which Joe is an expert, not to mention being "two degrees of separation" from Miles himself --- it's hard to describe, but playing with a tight group like that is so "easy"!
Beginning at the end of August, I am fortunate to be teaching Jazz Arranging and coach "combo class" at Cal State University Northridge this semester, and it has been a rewarding experience so far. This is my first time teaching in a full classroom setting, so I'm really trying to do it right and give the students a good balance of structure and freedom.
Continuing the higher education trend, the Michael Mull Octet had the pleasure of doing a masterclass at CalArts, where I did my graduate work. This was an excellent experience all around, playing some new and older music and fielding thoughtful questions from both students and faculty. It was especially interesting for me to answer some of their questions, thinking and trying to describe aspects of my music and writing process for the Octet that I had never really sat down and considered, recognizing some of the reasons for my musical choices. Thank you to David Roitstein and Larry Koonse for hookin' it up, and to the students for being fantastic - hope to see you at a show soon!
SPEAKING OF OCTET SHOWS WHATSTHATYOUSAY? Yes, the Michael Mull Octet is going to de-blubber the Blue Whale once again on Friday, October 25th, this time with the help of NYC-based trio KROM. They play some remarkable and fresh music, so this is a date to make if at all possible! Mark them calendars and cave walls, more details to come. In the near October future:
Fri 10/18 - River Song and Walsh Set Trio @ ArtistShare LA (I'm not in this but GO SEE IT and thank me later) 8pm https://www.facebook.com/events/367428453387824/
Sat 10/19 - Orkestar MEZE @ 4th Annual CalArts Wild Beast Concert Series: In other words, a FREE dance party...https://www.facebook.com/events/515180121898672/ 6:00pm
Thurs 10/24 - Mahadev @ The Crest Bar in La Crescenta: also featuring Fumosonic and Bubbeleh, 8pm (Mahadev around 10pm)
Fri 10/25 - Michael Mull Octet and KROM @ Blue Whale: 9pm, 21+ and only $10 for both sets, no minimum. Check back here soon or on facebook for more details.
Friday, August 9, 2013
MEZE @ El Cid Tonight 8/9/13
Last minute post, folks! Orkestar MEZE is going into the studio next week to record some incredibly grooving new music for our sophomore release! Come celebrate with us and hear some of the new tunes, performed live in public for the very first time. Two other fantastic bands are warming up the room before us, Klezmer junkies Bubbeleh and techy-world-jazz wizards Orange Tulip Conspiracy. The show starts at 9pm, but if you can't make it until "after hours", don't despair!!! Orkestar MEZE takes the stage at 11pm, and we play until last call. Tell them you are here to see MEZE!
Orkestar MEZE/Orange Tulip Conspiracy/Bubbeleh
El Cid
4212 W Sunset Blvd
Doors at 9pm, MEZE at 11pm
$10, 21+ only
Facebook it!
Bring your belly-dancing skills...there are prizes to be won at the classic Orkestar MEZE belly-dancing contest during our set!
Orkestar MEZE/Orange Tulip Conspiracy/Bubbeleh
El Cid
4212 W Sunset Blvd
Doors at 9pm, MEZE at 11pm
$10, 21+ only
Facebook it!
Bring your belly-dancing skills...there are prizes to be won at the classic Orkestar MEZE belly-dancing contest during our set!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Meshuggah pt. 2 - Transfixion
Long, long ago (in January 2012) I did a post where I shared and analyzed a transcription of Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal's solo on a track called "Beneath". You can check that post out here. If this is the first you are hearing of Meshuggah, or of my interest in them, I recommend you read the prior post before diving in here. I am presenting another solo today, with a third on the way (this time I mean it, I swear!).
Today we will look at Thordendal's solo on "Transfixion", a song from the same album as "Beneath", entitled Destroy Erase Improve (1995!). You can listen to the whole track here. The guitar solo begins at 1:40 on the full track. Spend some time just listening to the groove and the solo - follow along with the transcription to get used to how the rhythm guitar part (bottom staff) emphasizes different beats in the 2-bar repeating phrase. This riff is much less complex than a "typical" Meshuggah riff, but it makes for easier following-along on a very complex solo. Let's take a look (I recommend saving the pic to your desktop so you can zoom in with a picture viewing program):
Unlike the previous post, this is a very difficult solo to discuss harmonically, probably because it seems not to be about that at all. To me, this solo is all about shape - there is a lot of twisting and turning, and what you might call spiraling. From my limited knowledge of guitar techniques, I am fairly certain that the middle to the end of the solo (excluding, probably, the last few beats) is performed by tapping, which seems very visual and lends itself toward shapes. Thordendal goes mad-scientist on this one...
Taking a look at the first couple of interjections in relationship to the rhythm guitar riff, Thordendal shifts major to phrygian minor to an Eb/C# sound, and then completely departs. The beginning of m.4 hints at a whole-tone sound and jumps up to what I would call a "funky" phrase that lands on a B on the last eighth-note of the measure. This "lick" could be described in the diminished mode (respelled as C#-E#-G-A#-B, it fits the profile of C#13 with a flatted fifth), and introduces the diminished sound to the solo, to be expanded later. Thordendal hangs onto the "funky lick", an eighth-note earlier and isolated (m.5), and then begins, twists, and replays it once more ("fakeout", m.6).
M.7 is where the plane takes off - dropping almost three octaves from his last note, Thordendal digs into the diminished sound more fully, but with a slightly different selection of tones from the same diminished scale (looks like a tritone away from the previous set, G-B-C#-E-F). Beginning in m.8 we see a definitive 6-note shape appear (slurs are used for discussion and don't indicate any emphasis in the performance). Compare the second and third phrases, marked a and a' respectively - they are identical except that in a' Thordendal switches the first two notes (E and Bb) and places the E an octave higher, setting up the fully formed, prevailing shape for the next 3 measures (note also that here the rhythm guitar "opens up" from palm-muted to ringing notes, highlighted brilliantly by this high-register pattern). This shape continues to develop and alter slightly, as labeled, and upon the introduction of Eb's in the phrase marked c'', the melody departs from the diminished sound to what we can affectionately call "no man's land".
The rest of the solo spirals upward until another shape is revealed in m.14, this time a group of nine that is played three times, transposed up a half step each time. The third time, the final interval is changed to a major 3rd instead of a major 2nd, setting up another wild line that both concludes the rising chromaticism (G to Ab in m.15) and reaches the highest pitch in the solo (4 ledger-line G). It is worth noting that from the G to Ab resolution, Thordendal's line leaps outward (wider intervals), and seems to "close", with shrinking intervals all the way up to the last note.
I'll finish up with a general impression. The lack of a harmonic center in this solo is a highlight for Thordendal's ability to give identity through shape- and rhythm-based phrasing; the first two short phrases of the solo end with an upward leap of a 5th, and every subsequent phrase-ending is a downward-leaping tritone, every time landing on a strong downbeat (with the exception of m.4 ending on the "& of 4). The effect is a solo that is outwardly chaotic with a deeper, funky sensibility underneath. I'd love to hear other ideas, thoughts, and comments from readers. Thank you for reading and keep your eyes here - next up, a Meshuggah "classic" off of the Chaosphere album!
Today we will look at Thordendal's solo on "Transfixion", a song from the same album as "Beneath", entitled Destroy Erase Improve (1995!). You can listen to the whole track here. The guitar solo begins at 1:40 on the full track. Spend some time just listening to the groove and the solo - follow along with the transcription to get used to how the rhythm guitar part (bottom staff) emphasizes different beats in the 2-bar repeating phrase. This riff is much less complex than a "typical" Meshuggah riff, but it makes for easier following-along on a very complex solo. Let's take a look (I recommend saving the pic to your desktop so you can zoom in with a picture viewing program):
Taking a look at the first couple of interjections in relationship to the rhythm guitar riff, Thordendal shifts major to phrygian minor to an Eb/C# sound, and then completely departs. The beginning of m.4 hints at a whole-tone sound and jumps up to what I would call a "funky" phrase that lands on a B on the last eighth-note of the measure. This "lick" could be described in the diminished mode (respelled as C#-E#-G-A#-B, it fits the profile of C#13 with a flatted fifth), and introduces the diminished sound to the solo, to be expanded later. Thordendal hangs onto the "funky lick", an eighth-note earlier and isolated (m.5), and then begins, twists, and replays it once more ("fakeout", m.6).
M.7 is where the plane takes off - dropping almost three octaves from his last note, Thordendal digs into the diminished sound more fully, but with a slightly different selection of tones from the same diminished scale (looks like a tritone away from the previous set, G-B-C#-E-F). Beginning in m.8 we see a definitive 6-note shape appear (slurs are used for discussion and don't indicate any emphasis in the performance). Compare the second and third phrases, marked a and a' respectively - they are identical except that in a' Thordendal switches the first two notes (E and Bb) and places the E an octave higher, setting up the fully formed, prevailing shape for the next 3 measures (note also that here the rhythm guitar "opens up" from palm-muted to ringing notes, highlighted brilliantly by this high-register pattern). This shape continues to develop and alter slightly, as labeled, and upon the introduction of Eb's in the phrase marked c'', the melody departs from the diminished sound to what we can affectionately call "no man's land".
The rest of the solo spirals upward until another shape is revealed in m.14, this time a group of nine that is played three times, transposed up a half step each time. The third time, the final interval is changed to a major 3rd instead of a major 2nd, setting up another wild line that both concludes the rising chromaticism (G to Ab in m.15) and reaches the highest pitch in the solo (4 ledger-line G). It is worth noting that from the G to Ab resolution, Thordendal's line leaps outward (wider intervals), and seems to "close", with shrinking intervals all the way up to the last note.
I'll finish up with a general impression. The lack of a harmonic center in this solo is a highlight for Thordendal's ability to give identity through shape- and rhythm-based phrasing; the first two short phrases of the solo end with an upward leap of a 5th, and every subsequent phrase-ending is a downward-leaping tritone, every time landing on a strong downbeat (with the exception of m.4 ending on the "& of 4). The effect is a solo that is outwardly chaotic with a deeper, funky sensibility underneath. I'd love to hear other ideas, thoughts, and comments from readers. Thank you for reading and keep your eyes here - next up, a Meshuggah "classic" off of the Chaosphere album!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
MEZE Marquee
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
FREE SHOW - Orkestar MEZE at House of Blues
Join Orkestar MEZE for an absolutely FREE show this Saturday 7/13 on the famed House of Blues main stage! Here's the trick - you still have to get tickets to get in. Just email peasantfunk@gmail.com with your address and the number of tickets you want. That's it. FREE! If we can't mail them to you in time, we'll find another way to get them to you at the show! Look what happened last time we explodified the HOB mainstage:
We have another amazing guest this time around - K'noup from VIZA, a longtime friend of Orkestar MEZE and a helluva singer. We will be performing a song of his, a slamming Greek MEZE staple tune, and some edgy Bulgarian pop songs with a MEZE "tvist". Don't miss this one! Details below:
Orkestar MEZE feat. K'noup @ House of Blues Sunset
Saturday July 13th, 2013
9:00pm, one set only
FREE (email peasantfunk@gmail.com for tickets)
ages 18+
8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
RSVP on Facebook
We have another amazing guest this time around - K'noup from VIZA, a longtime friend of Orkestar MEZE and a helluva singer. We will be performing a song of his, a slamming Greek MEZE staple tune, and some edgy Bulgarian pop songs with a MEZE "tvist". Don't miss this one! Details below:
Orkestar MEZE feat. K'noup @ House of Blues Sunset
Saturday July 13th, 2013
9:00pm, one set only
FREE (email peasantfunk@gmail.com for tickets)
ages 18+
8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
RSVP on Facebook
Friday, June 21, 2013
Mahadev in Concert 6/22
I've had a great summer so far - got to experience Bjork at the Hollywood Bowl a couple weeks ago! Had a rip-snorting good time playing with my Trio last Saturday for the Blue Whale outdoor concert series, and very cool to play with amazing drummer Gene Coye for the first time. Sticking around after that to hear the Bennie Maupin trio (with Darek Oles and Tootie Heath) was icing on the trio cake...what a sound! Here's a nice shot of my trio having fun, with my bass clarinet nabbing background props.
Tomorrow night, Saturday 6/22, I'm performing at another outdoor concert series, this time in Thousand Oaks and with world music mash-up masters Mahadev. Check this facebook link for addresses, ticket info, and more. Show starts at 7pm at the beautiful Hillcrest Center for the Arts, right up the hill from The Oaks mall area.
Finally, I've jumped on the Twitter-wagon - follow me if you please @mmullmusic. I'll be updating there about shows and events, as well as keeping tabs on the progress of recording a couple different albums throughout the rest of the year, including one for my Octet (in the planning stages), and one for Orkestar MEZE. We have a fundraising campaign, please take a look and watch our video!
That's it for now, stay friendly here, on Facebook, and on Twitter for some great music coming down the tubes!
Tomorrow night, Saturday 6/22, I'm performing at another outdoor concert series, this time in Thousand Oaks and with world music mash-up masters Mahadev. Check this facebook link for addresses, ticket info, and more. Show starts at 7pm at the beautiful Hillcrest Center for the Arts, right up the hill from The Oaks mall area.
Finally, I've jumped on the Twitter-wagon - follow me if you please @mmullmusic. I'll be updating there about shows and events, as well as keeping tabs on the progress of recording a couple different albums throughout the rest of the year, including one for my Octet (in the planning stages), and one for Orkestar MEZE. We have a fundraising campaign, please take a look and watch our video!
That's it for now, stay friendly here, on Facebook, and on Twitter for some great music coming down the tubes!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Michael Mull Trio + Gene Coye, Tempest Twins
Reached my 27th year on June 7th last week, and am ready to keep the ball rolling along with perpetually increasing musication! Orkestar MEZE played some super funky sets down in San Diego, the Michael Mull Octet is sounding incredible on some new music, and the Tempest Twins are officially launched on bandcamp and youtube! Get launched while you read the rest of the post - play the track below:
I'm excited to announce that I'll be playing a Michael Mull Trio gig at the Blue Whale's new outdoor series this Saturday, June 15th at 6:30pm! Shows have been taking place outside in the Weller Court area every Saturday and are ALL AGES and FREE. The Trio will feature a special guest this time around, the illustrious Gene Coye on drums! I saw Gene play shortly after I moved to LA and have been hoping to play with him since...come and see it go down if you are in the LA area. Did I mention it's FREE?! Bennie Maupin Trio is playing upstairs at the Whale after we play, so stick around!
And a shout-out: if you are in the Valley on Saturday the 15th, you might like to go to Barclay's in Northridge and catch Ami & The Marissa Calille Quartet at 7pm!
I'm excited to announce that I'll be playing a Michael Mull Trio gig at the Blue Whale's new outdoor series this Saturday, June 15th at 6:30pm! Shows have been taking place outside in the Weller Court area every Saturday and are ALL AGES and FREE. The Trio will feature a special guest this time around, the illustrious Gene Coye on drums! I saw Gene play shortly after I moved to LA and have been hoping to play with him since...come and see it go down if you are in the LA area. Did I mention it's FREE?! Bennie Maupin Trio is playing upstairs at the Whale after we play, so stick around!
And a shout-out: if you are in the Valley on Saturday the 15th, you might like to go to Barclay's in Northridge and catch Ami & The Marissa Calille Quartet at 7pm!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Summer Begins
Long time since the last post...what a busy Spring it has been! Had a great Octet show at the Blue Whale, played a musical, did some fun sets with Mahadev, and recorded with tenor saxophonist Frank Silva for a new record of his original music. It's going to be a rip-snorting record, and I even got a tune on there, so keep your eyes here for more info as it gets released.
May is flying by, and I have a few shows with Orkestar MEZE coming up. First, this Sunday 5/19 we are playing at the Annual Bulgarian Festival in Culver City. It is a four-hour event with tons of other music, delicious Bulgarian food, arts, dance, and all that wonderful festival stuff! Best of all, pre-sale tickets can be purchased online for only $11. Eleven bucks. Yeah! Still only $20 at the door, but get them early and pick them up at the venue. Event runs from 12:30 to 4:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City 90230.
A week later, on Saturday 5/25, we are driving the plow and mules down to sunny San Diego (albeit with a somewhat downsized MEZE) to play a small daytime festival, and then rock the Turquoise Bar at night! We'd love to meet some new SD Peasants, so please tell your friends and enemies to come check us out.
Lots of other good stuff in the planning stages right now...stay in touch! Here's Orkestar MEZE with the incredible Ellis Hall in March!
May is flying by, and I have a few shows with Orkestar MEZE coming up. First, this Sunday 5/19 we are playing at the Annual Bulgarian Festival in Culver City. It is a four-hour event with tons of other music, delicious Bulgarian food, arts, dance, and all that wonderful festival stuff! Best of all, pre-sale tickets can be purchased online for only $11. Eleven bucks. Yeah! Still only $20 at the door, but get them early and pick them up at the venue. Event runs from 12:30 to 4:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City 90230.
A week later, on Saturday 5/25, we are driving the plow and mules down to sunny San Diego (albeit with a somewhat downsized MEZE) to play a small daytime festival, and then rock the Turquoise Bar at night! We'd love to meet some new SD Peasants, so please tell your friends and enemies to come check us out.
Lots of other good stuff in the planning stages right now...stay in touch! Here's Orkestar MEZE with the incredible Ellis Hall in March!
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