Geography is the exclusively argue that James Muller isn't as well-known as he should be. Having spent most of his life inward his native Australia, the guitarist, at nowadays inward his early on thirties, has racked upward a meaning number of releases including Sonic Fiction's Changing With the Times, pianist Mark Isaac's Closer in addition to the recent JazzGroove Mothership Orchestra's The Mothership Plays the Music of Mike Nock. Fusion fans may know him for his recent travel amongst drummer Chad Wackerman. Every projection seems to disclose some other side to this virtuosic player, begging the question: volition the real James Muller delight stand upward up?
Kaboom, Muller's quaternary album as a leader, comes from a session recorded during fourth dimension spent inward New York. He may endure the amount of his influences, but his ain phonation emerges on this laid of v self-penned tunes, addition 2 yesteryear swain Aussie Sean Wayland in addition to 1 standard. Muller eschews the heavily overdriven tone he used amongst Wackerman for a cleaner in addition to occasionally chorused tone that's yet got plenty of bite. Bassist Matt Penman in addition to drummer Bill Stewart circular out a trio rooted inward the mainstream, but yet filled amongst plenty of surprises.
Muller's chordal approach resembles John Scofield's, though he's less blues-informed. He communicates a hint of folksiness at times that references Pat Metheny, but he avoids whatsoever of the guitar icon's signatures, though his solo manner is as focused. The occasional descending legato run suggests Allan Holdsworth, but he's less abstruse inward nature in addition to isn't averse to letting his guitar audio similar a guitar.
The charts are primarily solo vehicles, but they're memorable, despite their brevity. There's plenty of room to stretch, but Muller's innate feel of structure never loses sight of the bigger picture. Peppering linear phrases amongst attractive chordal voicings, Muller creates tension yesteryear taking things ever thence slightly outside, but never at the expense of melodic development; this character is shared yesteryear Stewart, 1 of today's most distinctly musical drummers.
The trio swings difficult on "D Blues," evokes bittersweet melancholy on the balladic "Eindhoven" in addition to burns brightly on the fiery "Chick Corea." There's plenty of energy, but despite Muller's pungent tone, the overall vibe is to a greater extent than nearly polish surfaces than precipitous edges. While there's underlying form, there's likewise a strong simpatico that lets the trio need maintain plenty chances to come about listeners on their toes.
With the number of guitarists flooding the jazz scene these days, it's difficult to stand upward out, but Muller does merely that on Kaboom, farther testify of a vibrant Australian scene that's yet waiting to endure discovered yesteryear an international audience.
2012 Re-press. Australian guitarist James Muller need maintain been ever spoken inward instrumentalist circles highly praised yesteryear John Scofield, Republic of Chad Wackerman in addition to others. On this prepare novel unloose he teams upward amongst Scofield bandmate Bill Stewart on drums in addition to Matt Penman on bass. Kaboom has v of James' compositions, 2 yesteryear Sean Wayland in addition to 1 measure yesteryear Jerome Kern in addition to Oscar Hammerstein. Recorded inward NYC it's a absolute blinder - heed to it in addition to you'll encounter why John Scofield rates James as 1 of THE transcend players.
Really smashing compositions in addition to inspired playing yesteryear everyone. I can't recommend this enough. You volition non endure disappointed. Muller is a monster guitarist, in addition to Bill Stewart is his commons awesome self.
I respect this CD from Australian guitarist James Muller to endure a refreshing listen. Influences of early on Metheny in addition to Scofield are inward the playing but he has his ain style. Matt Penman is on bass in addition to Bill Stewart on drums. Both need maintain played amongst Scofield.My CD comes amongst a sticker recommendation from John Scofield. I quote "This is a smashing album.James has it all....I dearest his playing."
James Muller tin likewise endure heard on CDs yesteryear the Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band in addition to the Subterraneans.
Track Listing:
01 Honeycombs;
02 Kaboom;
03 Stacked;
04 D Blues;
05 Eindhoven;
06 Chick Corea;
07 Marcello;
08 All the Things You Are.
Personnel:
James Muller: guitar;
Matt Penman: bass;
Bill Stewart: drums.
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