robert muller

I’m from Oregon, but I haven’t lived there for a while, I’ve been in Europe, New York/New Jersey, and now New Mexico. (The state which is alphabetically between New Jersey and New York; coincidence?) My favorite musicians these days don’t usually call themselves jazz musicians, they’re just "musicians." I mean people with what I would call "narrowly open minds." I’m probably still a jazz guy and a piano player underneath it all, but you’re a lot more likely to find me playing Rhodes or Hammond in a funk band or doing studio work with a rapper or... something... I respect almost all music, but I get a lot more joy out of anything original. I’m stupid about hip hop and neo-soul and acid jazz and trip hop and drum ’n bass and jazz fusion and jazz-based jam bands and anything rhythmic and smart and interesting.
I used to have a great electric jazz band called Timefly with drummer Dave Anania (who has since moved moved to Berlin to be MD for Blue Man Group there) and singular electric bassist and lifelong friend Jon Price. I was a sideman for underground hip hop artist Pete Miser in gigs all over the East Coast and on MTV, also on the albums. He’s still one of my best friends and favorite people along with bassist Keith Golden, who I met in that band. Currently, I record and perform with Santa-Fe-via-Brooklyn guitarist/producer Larry Mitchell, and I do studio work with him for several local artists. This includes recent recordings for Shelley Morningsong’s new album, "Out of the Ashes" and piano work on Joy Harjo’s upcoming album, it’s been a blast. I’ve played a lot of gigs in a lot of places, ranging from fairly normal stuff like The Blue Note in New York City to slightly weirder stuff like jazz festivals in Europe to even weirder stuff like my appearance on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" to downright niche-y, like my tour with a Shriner’s Circus in 1988. Rather than trying to book gigs for myself, I usually just wait for the phone to ring; the strange thing is that it eventually does. Another approach may prove even more successful, time will tell.
When the stars line up, I play with vinyl-hoarding drummer Dave Wayne, guitarist/bassist/artist/guy-with-tattoos-and-piercings/onli ne comic creator Ross Hamlin and subtly angry bassist Matt Deason here in Santa Fe, last official time was High Mayhem in September 07. Last year’s gigs had me in Alaska, at the Public Theater in New York, and in Santa Fe for Indian Market. 2008 started with jazz duo gigs with cellist Chase Morrison and I’m trying to figure what else I’m going to do to be busier with music this year. It’ll probably involve doing some recording, and time permitting, I’d love to get into some more new live music. Maybe some weird solo piano stuff. Oh, and I have a beautiful daughter and a bunch of dogs and a Danish wife and stuff.