Michael Mull Octet

Michael Mull Octet
Showing posts with label michael mull octet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michael mull octet. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Pre-Sale Ticket Discount for Orenda Anniversary

If you pre-order your tickets for the upcoming Orenda Records 1st Anniversary Festival on January 30th and 31st, you can get $5 off the ticket price! Click here to pre-order tickets for one or both nights.

The Michael Mull Octet is closing the first night, January 30th, with a set of all new music. Brand new artwork by Eron Rauch will be up, including much about the process of designing each album, including mine! You'll be able to see some of what was behind the incredible album art for Source Code. Full details are on the FB event. In the meantime, bang your head:


Sunday, January 4, 2015

mm8tet @ Orenda Records Anniversary Show

As we all know, a year can pass by quickly in a blur of happenings. One wonderful happening of 2014 was the founding of Orenda Records by trumpeter/composer Dan Rosenboom. Orenda has been laying down deep roots in LA's creative music scene all year long, and already has an impressive catalogue of releases; it was an honor to release the Michael Mull Octet album Source Code on the label on 12/4/14.


To celebrate a musically adventurous and prolific year, there will be two consecutive nights of music from Orenda artists on January 30th and 31st at Blue Whale. Each artist is cooking up a short set of brand new music just for this event, so if you like to be in the "I heard it first" club, this is prime-time for you! More details on the groups as we near, but the short list is below (along with the incredible poster by Eron Rauch). You can also check out more info on Facebook.

January 30th: Jon Armstrong, Jonathan Rowden, Cathlene Pineda, Michael Mull Octet
January 31st: Kubilay Uner, Gavin Templeton, Alexander Noice, Dan Rosenboom

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

mm8tet "Source Code" Release + Preview Track

Oh bloggy, I didn't mean to neglect you! Much exciting news revolving the Michael Mull Octet album Source Code. It will be released one week after Thanksgiving, on Thursday, December 12th, with an accompanying release concert at Curve Line Space in Eagle Rock. Details below the incredible album cover art by Eron Rauch, the "everything art/photo/design guy" at Orenda Records. Feast your eyes while you slake your ears on "Lonestar" from the upcoming release.


Michael Mull Octet SOURCE CODE Album Release
Thursday, December 4th
8:00pm, two sets
Curve Line Space
1577 Colorado Blvd, LA 90041
$10, all ages
light refreshments provided
CDs discounted for $10 at the concert only!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

LAJC Summer Fest 8/23-8/24

As the summer burns past in multiple ways, I realize that a highly-anticipated event is coming our way in a matter of weeks. I'm pleased and excited to announce that I will be performing in the Los Angeles Jazz Collective Summer Festival at the Blue Whale. The festival is taking place on Saturday 8/23 and Sunday 8/24, including multiple projects each night. See below for the full lineup (click to enlarge):


As you can see, the Michael Mull Octet will be closing out the festival on Sunday night, 8/24. I am working on a brand new arrangement to debut for this performance. As you can't see, I'm going to also be playing Saturday night, joining the Matt Otto Group for a set of his original music. I have been a huge fan of Matt since I first heard him, not long after I moved to LA, and I am honored to play in his group, which will also include Gary Fukushima, Steve Cotter, Darek Oles and Mark Ferber - what a band! Matt has been living in Kansas City, MO for a while now, so this will be a relatively rare chance to hear him.

Hope to see many of you there at the Whale!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Recording Projects

The past two days have seen the first recording sessions of what will become Mahadev's sophomore release. I have been involved in Mahadev since it's inception by bandleader Dave Cipriani in 2011, and through several changes in size and lineup over the years, the band continues to evolve. Like so many musical projects these days, Mahadev is difficult to describe without either using blanket generalizations or far too many words strung together - suffice to say it draws from multiple traditional music cultures from around the world and filters them through the members' individual interpretations, styles, and personal study.
Blogger is not currently letting me embed the player, so click here to check out a track from the first Mahadev album. You can stream the rest of the album as well.

I'm into the mastering stages for the Michael Mull Octet album, with initial passes on two of the songs. They both are sounding really solid already, so aside from a few potential tweaks, I'm going to be saving up some cash to send the rest off soon! The rough plan at the moment is to try to release the album sometime this Fall, so stay tuned.

Lastly, the second Orkestar MEZE album is also slowly coming to be, with mixing underway and some ridiculously fat sounds happening! We are definitely bringing the peasantry, but with an extra thick slathering of funk and soul this time around. We're talking SPF 100. We have a potential July show in the works, so keep an eye on Facebook and/or peasantfunk.com.

I count myself very fortunate to be involved in such adventurous and musically fulfilling projects, especially with such a wide range of style, dynamics, and personalities...keeping me on my toes and giving me plenty of practice material!

Monday, May 26, 2014

Mix'd

The mixing stage of the Michael Mull Octet album is complete…listening through some right now and I am so excited for this release and proud of the amazing musicianship of my bandmates. The dynamic and emotional range of the tracks promises to be a layered and multilevel experience.

Thank you again to all you IndieGoGo supporters, and thank you for your patience. It is a long process to complete any major work, but it is very important to me that what I release is the best it can possibly be for you all.

Next up: mastering, artwork and design. More updates soon, stay in touch and if you haven't already, give the Michael Mull Octet a "like" on Facebook if you please.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

IndieGoGo Update Video #1

Hi everyone, forgot to post this here. Here's an update to our crowdfunding campaign (via IndieGoGo) to raise money for recording the Michael Mull Octet album! Please share with your friends and help us spread the word, we've got 22 days left! You can forward this simple link:

igg.me/at/mm8tet

Anyway, here's the video of me having some fun and "interviewing" Will and Tim from the Octet about the upcoming album:

Friday, January 17, 2014

IndieGoGo + 2 Shows

Happy 2014! I bring big news all around! Firstly, I'm very excited to launch a crowdfunding campaign for the Michael Mull Octet's first album, via IndieGoGo. If you are unfamiliar with crowdfunding, it works as a modern-day patronage system for artists, entrepreneurs, and activists; people from all over the world can check out your project idea and contribute to help make it a reality! Best of all, those who contribute to our campaign can choose from all kinds of great rewards...you can see a full list on the campaign page. Watch the launch video below, and stay tuned for updates throughout the campaign:



Next, I'm joining trumpeter/composer Connor McElwain on Monday night, 1/20, at Vitello's in Studio City. He always writes interesting music, and this is my first time to play on the frontline with him. Here is the event on Facebook with all the details.
Finally, a week from today I am performing a much-anticipated concert with the Michael Mull Octet and the Rowan-Baba Large Ensemble, whose music you really have to hear to believe. The concert is taking place at ArtShareLA, a versatile and relatively young venue in Downtown LA, and I'm honored to be a part of both ensembles! As you may know, larger ensembles like these don't get to perform all the time, so catch us while you can. This will actually be the Octet's first ALL AGES concert, so come one and all! Only $10, 8pm. Check it out on Facebook.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Hidden Remedies 12/18/13

I had a great rehearsal this morning with Frank Silva, Dave Tranchina and Mike Lockwood for a show at the Blue Whale on Wednesday, December 18th. We are stretching out on a lot of Frank's original compositions, one from Mike Lockwood, and a couple of mine as well. The concert is a triple party: not only a show, but a CD release of Hidden Remedies, recorded in April this year and now a finished product for you to hear! It's also Frank's birthday...so come celebrate with us, we're hanging late! Get those details on facebook here.

Mike, Dave, Frank and me. It took all four of us to screw in that lightbulb.
The quartet show is looking like my last show of 2013, but January will be full of Michael Mull Octet performances as we gear up for our recording session in February. We will be playing in Woodland Hills, a house concert in Highland Park, and sharing what promises to be an amazing night at ArtShareLA with the Baba-Rowan Large Ensemble on January 24th! Dates for the first two shows are TBD, so stay in touch here and follow the Octet on facebook. We will be kicking off the new year with a crowd-funding campaign to help us make the recording, so think about maybe buying yourself a late Christmas present...? Details and more exciting news coming soon!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Video from Blue Whale 10/25/13

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!

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!

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.



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!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Octet @ The Blue Whale this Thursday 3/28/13

Friends, it is my pleasure to "officially" announce the Michael Mull Octet's next show, this Thursday, March 28th, at the Blue Whale in downtown LA. We played our first show there in June 2012, and we have developed as a group over the past months. The Octet is taking over the whole night this time around, so come and enjoy two sets of music, much of it brand new, on Thursday! The band has been putting in a lot of work and is sounding incredible...

Michael Mull Octet is:
Michael Mull, Frank Silva - woodwinds
Harrison Kirk, Will Wulfeck - trombones
Adam Ratner, Tim Fischer - guitars
Emilio Terranova - bass
Mike Lockwood - drums

Michael Mull Octet @ The Blue Whale
Thursday, March 28th
9pm, two sets
$10, no minimum (food and full bar available)
Ages 21+ only, sorry!
facebook

Blue Whale
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St Los Angeles, CA 90012

Free street parking, or structure parking off of 2nd St.


Monday, March 18, 2013

March Rolls On

What an extreme second week of March last week...full of highs and lows, but I'm sure only to remember the highs in years to come! I was battling a nasty flu all week, but was able to participate in a couple great nights of music.

Orkestar MEZE played a ferociously energetic set of peasant funk on the House of Blues main stage on Thursday night! We were blessed to give out so many free tickets as a gift to our fans, old and new, for their incredible support over the past year. Part of the treat was sweetened with our guest, the ambassador of soul, Ellis Hall, sitting in on our version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish". I wager that the House of Blues hasn't been that funky in a while!


One day's rest afforded me a little increase in health, so I was ready to join my wife Ami on Saturday for a night of female singer-songwriters at the Tribal Cafe in Echo Park. She performed a diverse set of originals and arrangements to open the night.


Getting excited to keep the ball rolling and bring my Octet to the Blue Whale for a full night on March 28th! A full post with more details to come.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Best of the Blue Whale: 2012

It is my honor to announce the release of a new album, Best of the Blue Whale: 2012. Compiled by videographer and sound engineer Alex Chaloff as a surprise gift to the Blue Whale club's owner Joon Lee, this digital-only release features twelve choice cuts from performances at the Blue Whale that Alex recorded audio and video for. The album includes my composition "The People Who Raised Us" from the Michael Mull Octet's debut performance, and we couldn't ask to be in better company - other tracks include the likes of Anthony Wilson, Ben Wendel, Larry Koonse, Josh Nelson, Larry Goldings, John Daversa and more.


The reason this is a "gift" to Joon Lee is that 100% of the proceeds of the album sales will go toward upgrading the sound and lighting systems at the Blue Whale, meaning a greater listening experience for the music and a greater viewing experience of the ever-changing art installations! All the artist represented on this album donated their tracks so that we all can see, hear, and feel the benefits at the bastion of great music that the Blue Whale has become. Stream and download the album exclusively on bandcamp.com.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Octet Videos pt 2

Here we have two more videos from the Michael Mull Octet's first show at the Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. This first one was the set opener, entitled "Fallujah". This tune was a staple of the Big Enough Band, a quintet I was involved in for several years. It was a treat to fill out and orchestrate it for the Octet. "Fallujah" features guitarist Adam Ratner at the helm of a freight train crescendo.




The below video was the set closer, "Sources". This was originally written for a 5-piece band at CalArts, and I expanded and re-arranged it for the Octet. One of the more complex tunes I've written in a lot of ways, it is based on 9-beat grooves and features a collective improvisation from myself on bass clarinet and Harrison Kirk on trombone. Taking us barreling to the end is Tim Fischer on his brand new guitar.



If you are liking the influx of videos recently, keep your eyes open; I had a fun Michael Mull Trio performance in Northridge on Friday evening, and we filmed a lot of that evening's music as well. It won't look or sound as wonderful as the above videos though, so thanks again to Alex Chaloff for the great Octet videos...enjoy!