George Gershwin’s “Summertime” is one of the most covered standards in the smooth jazz genre. By pairing it with an earlier classic “Am I Blue”, Mueller makes it an antidote to the blues, as summertime often can be. He captures the breezy quality of effortless peace. Mixing several vintage keyboards with acoustic piano, the dreamy textures conjure the musings of a tired soul, which is at the heart of both pieces. The result is both cleansing and uplifting.
The artwork of Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh form the central images for “AM I Blue”. But when the piece slowly evolves into “Summertime”, Mueller gives a glimpse into his personal life, showing his wife, Suzanne, in their New England backyard gardens with multiple closeups of the gorgeous flowers grown there. It truly brings summer to life.
“Am I Blue / Summertime” isn’t just a medley of two tunes, but a study into how each song can inform the other. “Standard Deviations” explores the relationships between great jazz standards by deviating between them, intermingling melodies and counter-melodies in unique multi-genre arrangements. Listen to the entire album, you won’t be disappointed. Link: https://tobinmueller.hearnow.com
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