Standard Deviations

Reviewed: 2018-11-07
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This two-CD set is a tribute to 20th Century songwriters and songs, but in Mueller’s own way. He reinvents 33 standards in 24 performances (there are several medleys) for a set of colorful and unpredictable performances in post-bop and electronic explorations. The first CD is mostly medium and up-tempo ensemble performances. The second disc puts its emphasis on dreamy ballads and Mueller’s acoustic piano although his other electronic keyboards set many of the moods and play their part. Occasionally, his drummer or saxophonist sit in.
If You Like: Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
DISC 1
1/ God Bless The Child/ What A Wonderful World – organ starts> midtempo funky jam> organ solo> slows to slow jam> quick stop
2/ St. Louis Blues – drums start> midtempo funky jam> wailing electric guitar solo> organ solo> jam> quick stop
*3/ Eleanor Rigby – piano starts> midtempo jam mellows> sax solo> jam> fade on percussion
**4/ Birdland/ Long Distance Runaround – organ starts> midtempo jam swings uptempo, then slows, and swings up again> crescendo end
5/ Moanin'/ Blue Monk – piano starts> midtempo jam> wailing electric guitar solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
6/ After Hours/ Monk's Point – piano starts> slow jam> honky-tonk piano solo> slow jam> fade
7/ Cool – drums start> slow hesitating jam goes slightly off-kilter> fade
*8/ Take Five – drums start> midtempo jam> slow fade
*9/ Straight, No Chaser - (applause) piano starts> midtempo jam> fade
10/ Take the “A” Train – electric piano starts> funky off-kilter midtempo jam> fade
DISC 2
*11/ Autumn Leaves – synth starts> midtempo off-kilter jam morphs into slow pretty melody with off-kilter touches> pause & a chord to end
*12/ Stardust – synth starts> midtempo spacey jam with off-kilter piano touches> slow fade
13/ Am I Blue/ Summertime – piano starts> slow jam> beautiful piano solo> slow fade
*14/ Moon River/ Somewhere Over The Rainbow – lovely slow electric piano solo
15/ Georgia On My Mind – slow piano solo
16/ Sophisticated Lady – piano starts> slow duet with sax> piano solo> fade
*17/ Fly Me To The Moon – lovely slow piano solo
*18/ The Way You Look Tonight/ The Nearness Of You - lovely slow electric piano solo
19/ Secret Love – slow piano solo
*20/ My Funny Valentine – slow Rhodes solo
*21/ Rhythm Medley: It Don't Meana Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing)/ Fascinating Rhythm - piano starts> uptempo solo> pause & shift> uptempo solo> shift> uptempo jam> quick stop
*22/ Smoke Gets In Your Eyes/ People – slow solo piano swings uptempo> quick fade
23/ Where is Love – synth starts with swirling notes> slow duet with piano> slow piano solo> slow fade
*24/ A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square – slow piano solo> fade