Tommy Muellner

Infobox Musical artist


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Name = Tommy Muellner
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Background = vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Thomas Michael Muellner
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Born = birth date and age|1953|01|25|mf=y
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Origin = flagicon|USA Chicago, Illinois, USA
Instrument = Piano
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Genre = Jazz
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1993 onwards
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Associated_acts = Arelene Bardelle
Catherine Whitney

Ira Sullivan
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Thomas Michael Muellner (born January 25, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American Jazz Pianist that is Chicago-based. His father is John F. Muellner, born 1923 in Chicago, and was Tommy's first musical influence. In his father's heyday, he played accordion in a dance band all around town. On occasion he still plays organ for Senior Citizen functions. He also plays on his Hammond at home.

In later years, Tommy's musical influences were gleaned from the likes of Bill Evans (who he spent part of an afternoon with once, and profoundly inspired him), Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Dexter Gordon. He learned mostly from the great classic jazz recordings. He also learned a great deal from playing with master musicians like Ira Sullivan, as well as other lesser known musicians he worked with at a younger age.

Tommy comes from a home enriched with good music. With a variety of musical instruments to choose from, he started playing some gigs at an early age. Although he has played drums, guitar, bass and organ, Tommy's natural preference was always the piano. Tommy grew up hearing many great jazz records, but the whole family especially loved the unique jazz piano artistry of Erroll Garner. Tommy is forever indebted to Erroll for giving him the capacity to love the piano, and has focused on the jazz idiom for over three decades now. In his early twenties, Tom discovered Bill Evans "by osmosis," who in his evaluation has forever changed the way jazz piano is played. After that important discovery, he got deeper into the possibilities of jazz piano. "I realized when I finally heard the music, that jazz is more than music. It is great art, and a philosophy with spiritual ramifications," says Tom. His favorite pianists include Art Tatum, Hank Jones, Bud Powell, Barry Harris, McCoy Tyner, Monty Alexander, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Steve Kuhn, Denny Zeitlin, Fred Hersch and his close friend John Campbell.

Muellner has become a highly respected Chicagoland jazz pianist and composer. [Publication: Chicago Magazine Date: January 2008 issue "His name may not ring a bell among casual listeners, but those who value honest musical expression or a well-thought-out improvisation will find much to recommend in this solo recital by an unjustly under-the-radar local piano talent."] He also teaches jazz theory and harmony privately on a limited basis. Tom is a natural-born musician with a unique style and an uncanny understanding of harmonic movement, improvisation and musical interplay. He freelances with many top musicians and often plays piano for private occasions. Tom also headlines regularly at many prestigious jazz clubs. Neil Tesser, the nationally recognized jazz critic and writer, [Website: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/journalists/tesser.htm] cites that Tommy is a "pianist and tunesmith of stellar magnitude." Tommy has received many plaudits and kudos from aficionados and statesmen throughout the jazz world, including this comment from Hammond jazz organ master Joey DeFrancesco, "Tommy swings, grooves, is soulful, and in total command of his instrument, plus I love him, he's one of my favorites!"

Tommy has worked with many "world class" jazz stars such as Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Ojeda, John Fedchock, Warren Kime, Mark Colby, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Ron Dewar, Michael S. Smith, Isaac Redd Holt (of the Ramsey Lewis Trio fame), Donny Osborne and the late Barrett Deems of Louis Armstrong fame, to name just a few. Tommy also works with many fine vocalists such as Arlene Bardelle, Hinda Hoffman, Spider Saloff and Catherine Whitney.

elected recordings

* Audio CD Title:"It's All About Time" / Release Date:February,14 1998 / Label:Denwa / Manufacturer:RCA Victor Europe

Official website

http://www.tommujazz.com The performer's website

External links

* http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=14769
* http://www.denwarecords.com/jazz/artists_jazz_bio_muellner.html
* http://www.chicagojazz.com/musician.php?artist=tommu&muid=154
* http://www.chicagojazzentertainment.com/musicians.htm
* http://www.youtube.com/tommymuellner
* http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000006NAV%3ftag=mp3lyrics-20%26link_code=xm2%26camp=2025%26dev-t=D1CHLK05RUF5UA

Notes

References

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