Formation Album Cover

May I present the cover artwork for my trio's first album, "Formation".

 

Artwork and design is all done by Derek Schultz (www.staralchemy.org). Come get your copy at our CD Release Party at the Blue Whale on February 17th, 2011!

FORMATION

Great news people!

I'm making leaps and bounds toward releasing my trio album. First of all, I named it: FORMATION. The artwork is being finished up and looks incredible so far, I'll be posting a preview of the cover very soon, so watch for it.

Secondly, I'm honored and excited to announce that our CD release party will take place at the Blue Whale on Thursday, February 17th. The Blue Whale is quickly becoming "the place" for great live jazz; classy but laid-back atmosphere, nice bar with awesome bartenders, resident baby grand piano and drumkit, no pesky food or drink minimums, and a true focus on the music. It's a no-hassle spot where people go to listen, and they continue to host tons of killer groups from LA and beyond. I'm grateful that my first opportunity to play at the Blue Whale will be for such a momentous occasion in my life.

More updates, previews, and details soon, make sure to check back often. Mark those calendars for February 17th!

2011 Kickoff Blog! Woah!

Happy New Year! Where's my flying car, future?

I know I'm a day late, and didn't post on the oh-so-cool date of 1/1/11, but I've still got the 11th, right? I am so excited for this year, going to put out my first album and move forward with a lot of musical ideas. I got together with my good friend and artist Derek Schultz in the last days of 2010 to work on the visual design for the album, and I can't wait to get this thing out! The artwork Derek has done is incredible, be on the lookout for a preview soon. I've got to get myself together and name this record...it is so difficult to sum up even one piece of music in a few words, no less an entire collection of different pieces. Again, you can hear an audio sampler of the album here.

I'm playing with Mahadev this Wednesday evening, January 5th, at Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills. This looks like a fancy place, so bring a date and we'll entertain you with a fun mix of Indian, Eastern European, Blues, and more. You can get some details on this event on Facebook here, or just check out this little blurb:

Caffe Roma features excellent Italian cuisine in a fine dining setting. You can see their menu at:
http://www.cafferomabeverlyhills.com/

There is no cover!

Mahadev is:
Michael Mull: saxophone & clarinet
Dave Cipriani: Indian slide guitar & classical guitar, voice
Eric Klerks, upright bass
Aaron W Chavez: riq, kanjira, tombek, etc (hand percussion)

 I recently got tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin's latest album, Perpetual Motion, and have been giving it numerous listens since. It's a more "plugged in" record, and the band is tight but never complacent. Donny sounds ridiculously good as usual, but keyboardist Adam Benjamin really stands out to me here. Adam has an incredible melodic and textural concept that I think shines particularly bright on this recording. I'm just now listening to his wonderful solo piano album, Alphabets and Consequences, highly recommended. I'm planning to do a full review of Perpetual Motion soon, keep your eyes open.

Happy 2011 everyone, let's make this a good one!

Original Music this Sunday

It's December, and you know what that means...shopping. Take a break for some great original music at a great price this Sunday. More Art Inc. is a listening room and gallery space in Granada Hills dedicated to bringing enlightening music and arts to the surrounding community. I will have the privilege of playing there with the Juanma Trujillo Quartet, and sharing the bill with talented saxman/woodwind player Josiah Boornazian and his trio. Rehearsing with Juanma's group yesterday, we've got some fun, interesting and brand new music to deliver (I've gotta go practice it!), and Josiah always delivers something to turn on your ears.

Perhaps the best part is that you Valley folks don't have to drive down to Hollywood or Downtown or wherever for a great live music experience; it's right up the street in Granada Hills. Here's the event on facebook, and make sure and get your tickets presale (click "donate" via paypal in the upper right), 5 bucks cheaper than the already low door price. See you at More Art this Sunday, Frank Sinatra's birthday!!

Juanma Trujillo/Josiah Boornazian Groups @ More Art
Sunday, December 12th
4:30-6:30pm
$10 presale, $15 at the door

More Art Inc

10667 White Oak Ave

Granada Hills, CA

4:30pm: Juanma Trujillo Quartet
Juanma Trujillo - Guitar, Michael Mull - Saxophones/Bass Clarinet, Emilio Terranova - Bass, Cameron Hicks - Drums

5:30pm: Josiah Boornazian Trio + Special Guests
Josiah Boornazian - Saxophones
Mike Alvidrez - Bass
Brijesh Pandya - Drums

Peace Yoga on Friday

I'm playing a gig on Friday night with Mahadev, a newly formed group led by guitarist/singer/composer Dave Cipriani. Tunes from this group (guitar/indian guitar, sax/clarinet, bass, hand percussion) will be mixed with various permutations of Dave's other groups, including vocals, drumset, lap steel guitar, tabla, and more. This will be a really fun mix of Indian, Eastern European, blues, rock, and jazz music at a really fun, no-hassle spot downtown, Peace Yoga Studio. Suggested donation of $10-15, but even if you've only got a buck to spare, come listen! It's most important to us to have you there and enjoying the music! You can check out the event on facebook, or just check the details below.


Dave Cipriani and Friends!
Friday, December 3rd
9:30pm-12:30am

Peace Yoga

903 S. Main St

Los Angeles, CA

 

Sugg. Donation $10-15 (or whatever)

Also, look out for more details on a quartet gig Dec. 12th with Juan Trujillo, Emilio Terranova and Cameron Hicks, coming soon! Did you check out the Michael Mull Trio album sampler yet?

Trio Sampler

Good evening, hope you are all enjoying the rest of Turkey-weekend. I'm pleased to announce that several hours work has yielded me a larger "web-presence" in the form of youtube videos and a reverbnation page, as well as a sampler track for my upcoming debut album with my trio. Let the links begin.

First, the SAMPLER! I'm excited to give you all a small taste of each track off the upcoming album, due for release January 2011. You can view it in video form HERE, or just listen (with the option of downloading) at reverbnation.com/michaelmull. Spread the word, if you please, and keep your eyes right here for a CD release show...

Secondly, I gave our trio facebook page a facelift, including cross-posted videos from a new youtube account with some older (but delicious) trio footage.

Finally, I am sick of myspace. Slow, unclear, not something I want to burden listeners with any longer. To help me make the switch to a much slicker, detailed, and intuitive site, visit reverbnation.com/michaelmull and take a listen to the sampler track, look around the site if you haven't been before (some great features for actually listening to music, imagine), and become a fan if you so desire.

After all this web-stuff, I'm hoping to post a LIVE trio gig soon; don't go far, and enjoy the new media!

Giving Thanks

A day late yes, but nonetheless sincere. Also, I'll see you all tonight at Rusty's for Orkestar MEZE, I hope! And now a musical thanksgiving list.

I'm thankful for the mysterious existence of music.
I'm thankful for the blessing to enjoy hearing and playing music.
I'm thankful for music that makes me move.
I'm thankful for music that makes me stop everything I'm doing and listen.
I'm thankful for music that burns my heart up.
I'm thankful for music that cradles me in warmth.
I'm thankful for the people I have the pleasure of knowing through music.
I'm thankful for the places music has taken me and will take me.
I'm thankful for the amazing artists of the past who have brought us their music.
I'm thankful for the future generations who will come up with sounds we cannot imagine.
I'm thankful that music will live as long as the human race, and perhaps longer.

A Night of Peasantgiving with Orkestar MEZE

This Friday night (evening after Thanksgiving), Orkestar MEZE is going to rock Rusty's once again on the Santa Monica pier, this time with two full sets of Balkan gypsy peasant funk! Come and dance off some of that turkey. If you haven't heard/seen MEZE, here's an idea of what you're in for.

Rusty's Surf Ranch
Santa Monica Pier
November 26, 2010
10pm
All ages show!
$7 - 21+
$12 for under 21 without parent/guardian

Photo by http://estnyboer.com/

Keeping Busy (bite-sized news)

Happy Saturday evening...I'm taking this one off and hanging at home! Checking out some music by Goran Bregovic in preparation for the upcoming Orkestar MEZE Night of Peasantgiving! We will be triumphantly returning to Rusty's in Santa Monica on Friday, November 26th (the night after Thanksgiving), to "tvist" and boogie peasant style. Come work off some of that turkey with some Balkan Gypsy Funk! Details coming soon...

Another event earlier next week: one of my favorite bands, Chord Four, will be returning to LA and polishing off their CD release tour with a live recording session at California Institute of the Arts. This is going to take place Monday night, November 22nd, at 11pm in the Roy O. Disney Hall on campus. Very inexpensive (FREE), very musical, and you can be a part of the next record just by being there and showing your enthusiasm! I'll be posting a review of their new album soon (something I'll try to do pretty regularly from now on).

Finally had the first rehearsal today with my new octet, and I couldn't be happier. I've got a fantastic group of musicians, and I can tell by the intense progress we made in one short rehearsal that we'll be ready to perform early next year. I've got to write some more music!

Artwork for the Michael Mull Trio album featuring Ben Shepherd and Cameron Hicks is off to an amazing start, thanks to my artistic cohort and long-time friend, Derek Schultz. By the way, we had an awesome time playing for the Ludes and Lullabies music series on Monday, what a fun crowd and great place to hang! We'll defnitely be back.

I also have a couple of gigs coming up near the end of November/beginning of December with a group of fellow-former CalArtians, guitarist Dave Cipriani, percussionist Aaron Chavez, and guitarist/bassist/saw-player etc. Eric Klerks. It will be a mix of Indian and Eastern-European traditional songs and inspired original tunes, at the Garter in Venice Nov. 29th and Peace Yoga Studio downtown Dec. 3rd. Again, details to come later.

Have a great Thanksgiving week everyone, I'll post details for the MEZE gig on Monday or Tuesday, and I'll see you there!!!

Ludes & Lullabies

Trio gig tomorrow night at the Ludes and Lullabies acoustic music series. Check it out on Facebook. I was checking out the Garter's website, and this place has a great look, I may be there a bit early for a drink. The set is late, I know, but no cover and you know what's even better? Seeing my trio.

Me - Saxes/Bass Clarinet, Ben Shepherd - Bass, Cameron Hicks - Drums.

The Garter
2536 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice, CA (map)

Monday, November 15th
11pm
NO COVER
...but it is a bar, so 21+ only, sorry