River Runs Through Me

TobinMueller

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Description

This is the penultimate track on The Muller's Wheel, my collaborative project with saxophonist Woody Mankowski. The melody is from my off-broadway show Creature, an interlude type song sung as the chorus recovers from a dance number. It turned into a haunting track that works well as a cool down moment after all the upbeat songs on The Muller's Wheel. This arrangement is a trio for piano, organ and soprano sax. I'm particularly proud of the the subtle ways the organ brings out the dynamic changes in the piano line.

This track was first published on my RAIN BATHER album. But because Woody does such a beautiful job on this as the featured soprano sax, I wanted to included it on The Muller's Wheel, since it's really a project meant to highlight Woody as a soloist. Putting them all on one disc, as it were.

Here are all the draft tracks from The Muller's Wheel so far on MJ:

Seafood Gumbo Bop
Oasis On The Rocks
Saddle Shoe Sally
Lost In The West Village
The Müller's Wheel
Windowshade
Fusion of Minds
Struttin' Up Bourbon
River Runs Through Me
Forrest's Fire

Vocal variations of this series:
Seafood Gumbo w/ AngelaHope

If you haven't heard much of my jazz stuff, please check out me jazz album RAIN BATHER.

Other songs featuring Woody Mankowski:
Pilgrim of the Return
Final Words
A Promise
Dreams III

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Song Stats

Hits: 1191
Comments: 36
Fans: 16
Plays: 83
Downloads: 38
Votes: 5
Uploaded: Jun 28, 2011 - 11:35:22 AM
Last Updated: Jul 07, 2011 - 08:34:29 AM Last Played: Jun 06, 2013 - 02:06:49 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

The Muller's Wheel (4), Rain Bather (9), Woody Mankowski (17), TobinMueller (60), soprano sax (13)

Comments

KCsGROOVE	KCsGROOVE said 721 days ago (June 28th, 2011)
	great songwriting! Love the melody, fine work on the keys Very nice pace.. That sax is sweet! Very much enjoyed! Fav and download! :-) KC Check out my latest song called I DON'T LIKE IT

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)

songwriting
Thanks for the comments about the writing. I have always thought of myself as a composer first, performer second. And since health issues have kept me from performing, except in a studio setting where I can cough and not ruin a take for everyone else, I feel even more as a composer. So I appreciate comments about my writing, even more than my playing. I like the notes I pick better than how I play them, for the most part. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. And, yes, Woody has a depth to the soprano that other players often fail to achieve; it can be a thin instrument, at times.

Check out my latest song called Dignity

igorbass	igorbass said 721 days ago (June 28th, 2011)
	great song. full of everything Check out my latest song called Jazz Bass Impro Exercises 8th notes & more

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	everything Thanks. And thank you for sending me that kind Note in private. I appreciate it a lot. MJ is a space for all stripes and interests, and I am glad we've had a chance to share our music with each other. Check out my latest song called Dignity

ShadowofNine	ShadowofNine said 721 days ago (June 28th, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me Power playing by you both, power meaning OUTSTANDING, compositions of smooth taste and direction...Bravi... Check out my latest song called Theres a Prog in my Soup

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	running through us Thanks. It's kind of a smooth jazz power ballad. I'm really glad you had a chance to check it out. Check out my latest song called Dignity

sonnyjim	sonnyjim said 721 days ago (June 28th, 2011)
	Sonic breadth The warmth that the organ and piano establish is nicely cut by the crispness of the sax (that sax is BEAUTIFULLY recorded). This track satisfies a wide range of 'tactile' requirements, kind of the way a dinner on the beach does! I need to listen a few more times, but on first listen everything sounds very fine. SJ Check out my latest song called A Bell In The Valley

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)

recording the sax
Thanks for your comments. Recording instruments is tricky, especially such a directional instrument like the soprano sax where sound spurts out of so many discrete holes and spaces. I actually go and an alter volume for separate notes and phrases within a line to try and make the sound that comes out of the speakers equal the unrecorded sound in the room. I fear I lowered the sax level too much after its first solo, but it sounds just right in headphones and my studio speakers, only sounds too low on my laptop speakers, which, I figure, don't count as much. Glad it sounded like music you can touch. I dig all the finger movements, pad clicks and breaths captured in the sax track. It adds to this effect.

Check out my latest song called Dignity

Llarion	Llarion said 721 days ago (June 28th, 2011)
	Oh, my... What gorgeous tone he has!! And what a luscious, sensual and delicately ornamented bed you've given him. So glad I have all your CDs coming, I can't wait till they arrive! This is artfully conceived and executed... Thanks for the wonderful mood! Check out my latest song called I Remember Christmas Eve

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	luscious, sensual Thanks for the great adjectives. It's been fun exchanging music. The site can use many more jazz guys. Love having you around. Thanks for sharing al your stuff here, too. By the way, I didn't send 13 Masks to you, I don't think. Let me know if that's one you'd like. (Drop me a note or email.) Check out my latest song called Dignity

Lightman-	Lightman- said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	Warm This song has a warm sound... I like the piano-playing.... A relaxing song... Check out my latest song called You Are

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	Warmth Thanks. We were going for that. Transitory yet substantive peace. I'm glad you felt it. Check out my latest song called Dignity

Soundhound

Soundhound said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)

A very nice track....
I love everything about this, except the sound on the keys I guess it's
the placement of the mic's....
From some of your chord patterns I would assume you were try to get
that gospel sound, I know it's not out of tune but it give me that in the
higher register, it's so close most would never know......
So with that said, I love the way it's put together......

Peace.....Tony....

Check out my latest song called When You Are Here...With/ Patricia Edwards..

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)

More a New Age sooth jazz ballad
Thanks for the notes. I think this piece was more in the New Age and smooth jazz genres than gospel. THe piano was tuned by a professional guy before the Rain Bather session, and I've never felt any aspect was out of tune, you're the first, although the vibrato and harmonics created by the organ can play havoc with sonic mindspace. Pianos are so hard to mic. Never happy with it. Had one inside and one underneath, capture some of the room. Woody was in a booth. Glad you liked the construction. That last build is one of my favorite moments with Woody. None of those notes were scored, he just played with the rising improvised progression. Such a great guy to play with...

Check out my latest song called Dignity

alackbass	alackbass said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me Beautiful! Such a lovely piece and brilliant playing by you both. I really love the piano solo section. Check out my latest song called Close to the Bone by Jerry Quinn

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	piano solo section Thanks. Sometimes stuff just works. Altho I can't recall exactly, this may have been the first take. Check out my latest song called Dignity

dave_b	dave_b said 720 days ago (June 29th, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me Beautiful changes highlight a journey through a lush soundscape. Warm and peaceful like a summer day when all is well with the world. Great playing both on the keys and the sax. Check out my latest song called Llarions Blues

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	Beautiful changes Thanks. Altho the piece was meant to capture a moment between angst and panic, an oasis if imagined peace as opposed to peace itself, I'll take a summer day anytime. Check out my latest song called Dignity

falcef	falcef said 720 days ago (June 30th, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me A Sax magic sound this is song ballad. Very nice pice and applause for musicians at pianist. Bye Check out my latest song called Live-Jam-in-Brentonec-01

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	Sax magic Thanks. I would definitely place Woody above Kenny G any day. He embodies musical magic. Check out my latest song called Dignity

FatherTime	FatherTime said 720 days ago (June 30th, 2011)
	jazzy soulful interlude it had a melancholy kind of feel. reminded me of the trials and tribulations of life. It was nice. I don't usually enjoy this style of music but it warmed me. Check out my latest song called I Can't Say

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	trials and tribulations of life Yes, thanks. Lots of melancholy here. And the weight of past. A lens into something deeper. I'm glad you stuck the track through to the end, even tho it's not your type of music. Thanks for giving it a try. Check out my latest song called Dignity

davisamerica	davisamerica said 719 days ago (June 30th, 2011)
	Pianos are little beasts to mic. I must say that the capture on this track is great. Lovely track Tobin and hats off to Woody as well. Check out my latest song called 12

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	hats Thanks. I love hats. I have a collection. In fact, I was thinking of doing a series of songs wearing different hats just to see of the personality of the hat shined thru the music somehow. I'd call it "Hats" of course... Taking Joe Cocker's advice, I like leaving hats on. Check out my latest song called Dignity

gadzooks	gadzooks said 719 days ago (June 30th, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me You are absolutely right the organ compliments the piano. Wonderful tone on the sax. I love what happens at 2:02 with the piano and then that subtle bit of organ sneaks in complimenting that melodic piano.This is a sad but wonderful composition. Quite beautiful. SG Check out my latest song called Coulda Shoulda

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	sad but wonderful Thanks. Funny how sad can indeed be wonderful. How weight can be uplifting. Too many purse the happy, dare not explore the fine meaningfulness of sorrow, loss, disappointment... There is beauty in remembering. You shall know our velocity, as Dave Eggers put it. Check out my latest song called Dignity

neilh79	neilh79 said 718 days ago (July 1st, 2011)
	River runs through me Lovely tune, the sax really helps it to take off and the piano is so cool well done Check out my latest song called Resurrection of Life Final Mix! (w/ Loob, Rok41, Symphony101, Gadzooks)

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	Sax takes off Thanks. Yes, Woody's sax makes my music soar. He is an aviator of the horn. Check out my latest song called Dignity

DWL	DWL said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	Oozes class but I'd expect nothing less from you Tobin. Beautiful composition and playing. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called Not For The Likes of You

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	Beautiful composition Thanks. We trued to create a moment of grace. I'm glad you felt it. Check out my latest song called Dignity

Corporal Beef	Corporal Beef said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me What a beautiful piece, Tobin. Love the dynamics and the arrangement. Both of you are outstanding musicians. Love the little high parts on the organ, and of course, the overall recording is brilliant. Thanks for posting. Check out my latest song called 12.31.12

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)

dynamics
Thanks. My favorite parts are the arpeggios in the organ, the traded chords between piano and organ in the climax, and that phrase of organ during the piano solo that is like a breath of passion under the keys. I'm often disappointed that the organ keyboard ends so quickly, that's so short, and wish I could play even higher. I'm glad you liked the upper range.

Check out my latest song called Dignity

ktb	ktb said 717 days ago (July 2nd, 2011)
	River Runs Through Me way to tweak every last ounce of goodness from that Hammond. Loved the "way" you played it as well. From the sound to the melodic lines interwoven with Woody's soulful playing. Tasty Check out my latest song called Blackwater (by Tokai)

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 623 days ago (October 4th, 2011)

the "way"
Thanks. I enjoy adding color, in order to bring out parts in the arrangement. But sometimes that camouflages the moments I'm actually playing melody, especially without using any edge to the sound from the organ. I'm glad you caught the whole thing. This is a song I've been playing for 17 years, so "tweaking every last ounce" is an apt comment!

Check out my latest song called Dignity

Philip18	Philip18 said 643 days ago (September 14th, 2011)
	Very beautiful Begins with a delightfully gentle and restful melody. Love the line that comes in at 2.40. The piece warms up a bit, but then comes back with the entry of the sax again. Love the ending, too. Much enjoyed! Check out my latest song called Coming Home (MJCC2013)

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 623 days ago (October 4th, 2011)
	delightfully gentle and restful Thank you. I've always enjoyed a clear A-B structure, then try and weave elements of each section into the pother on the variations. Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it when someone listens attentively all the way through. Makes all those moments worthwhile. Check out my latest song called Dignity

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Artist Info

Name: Tobin Mueller
Location: Rowayton CT USA

I am a professional musician, composer, playwright and director. I've led a charmed life. I'm married to fellow MJer Suzanne. MJer Twonicus is my son, he currently fronts 3 bands in the NYC area, including "Hoodless." My second son just received his... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

Smooth jazz is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from, among other sources, funk, pop and R&B. Since the late 1980s, it h

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