This is about the 5th album I’ve heard by Tobin Mueller, and each one is as diverse in its scope as it is ambitions. This time around, Tobin Mueller plays an assortment of keyboards, electronics, basses and even acoustic piano to bring back the sounds of the funkified 1970s. Not all of the songs are from the era of Tower of Power, Sly and the Family Stone , and Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, but the feel is there, even to the sound of a Weather Report-ish and mellowed out take of “Giant Steps” with Bill Barner’s clarinet oozing along with percussionist Ruben de Ruiter and Mueller’s many instruments.
The rest of the mix and match team includes Lamar Moore-Isaiah Schmidt/dr, Paul Nelson/g, David De Jesus-Woody Mankowski/reeds, Mike Martel/p and Kenny Cash/perc in various incarnations. Mueller provides an irresistible bass line to the clever medley of “Birdland/Long Distance Runaround” while DeJesus’ flute floats over a tropical and sweaty “Watermelon Man”. Nelson gets gritty as he sears through the horns and beat of “What Is Hip” and veers around the looking glass of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”. Martel’s trumpet splats and sears through Frank Zappa’s “King Kong” and Sly Stones “Thank You” with the team getting into the intergalactic world on Mueller’s own title tune. There’s even a gospel’d take of “America” that has Woody Mankowski testifying to the lyrics. A nice reflection of when America plugged in and spaced out, at least together.
Here are a couple links to videos of a couple of the songs. Have fun!