Turning Thoughts Chris Muller Bigband

• 1 Anticipation 07:06
• 2 Running Around 05:20
• 3 Waltse for C.C. 07:42
• 4 Turning Thoughts 08:58
• 5 Meant to be Different 06:48
• 6 Circular 06:24
• 7 Brainfreeze 05:40
• 8 Invitation (Arranged by Chris Muller) 05:59
• 9 Lost Changes 04:48
• 10 Yes or No (Arranged by Chris Muller) 06:52
• Total Runtime 01:05:37

Info for Turning Thoughts

As with so many productions that have seen the light of day in the past year, the breeding ground for 'Turning Thoughts' is also in Covid-19 times. Chris Muller wrote the title piece after he graduated as a physicist and still decided to follow his heart in music. “A matter of ‘Turning Thoughts”, he says.

“The transition towards the musician's life was not easy, but at the moment I am happy that I can use my technical background as a musician. Physics has taught me a lot about how the world works, and that now helps me, for example, in writing new music.”

During the first pandemic period in 2020, he composed the piece 'Anticipation', inspired by the thought of what life would (could) be like again after the pandemic.

What are the sources of inspiration for the material on 'Turning Thoughts'? “The album is mainly an expression of the thoughts and reflections I've had over the years,” says Chris. In addition to the aforementioned 'Anticipation', 'Lost Changes' is also an example of this. “There are a number of choices you make in your life that involve sacrifices, and that is not always easy, which I have tried to capture in a harmonious ballad.”

'Meant To Be Different' is a love ballad and the only vocal piece on the album, which is carried by Nicola Missing with a feature for saxophonist Jasper Blom. Some other compositions are a lot less charged, for example 'Brainfreeze' is about eating an ice cream that is just a little too cold.

Two pieces on the album are personal odes. For example, an arrangement of 'Yes or No' is dedicated to the recently deceased Wayne Shorter, and the composition 'Waltse for C.C.' is an ode to Chick Corea. “Shorter and Corea have both had such an impact on the jazz climate that we thought it appropriate to thank them in this way.”

Miguel Valente, saxophone
Jeline Weening, saxophone
Oleg Tkachenko, saxophone
Fleur Peereboom, saxophone
Pepijn Mouwen, saxophone
Alvaro Jimenez, trumpet
Pablo Castillo, trumpet
Álvaro Rey, trumpet
Oleg Prilutskiy, trumpet
Dima Loginov, trumpet
Alvaro Zarzuela, trombone
Maarten Combrink, trombone
Matteo Paggi, trombone
Jeroen Vermazeren, trombone
Yannik Sieburg, guitar
Ton Felices, bass
David Puime, drums
Chris Muller, piano, compositions/arrangements, conductor

Chris Muller Bigband
In 2021 one of his dreams came true when pianist, composer, and arranger Chris Muller brought together eighteen musicians in Amsterdam to form the Chris Muller Bigband. The band has grown to be one of the youngest professional big bands in the Netherlands and consists of the greatest talents in the Dutch jazz scene.

The youthful character of the band is complemented by the bandmembers’ experience, who are active in various Dutch orchestras. Several musicians regularly appear in the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw en het Metropole Orkest. Also, many band members have played in the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest en het Jong Metropole at both national and international venues.

The goal of the Chris Muller Bigband is to conserve and enrich the Dutch big band culture. With original work and arrangements by Chris Muller, the band simultaneously respects the traditional big band energy and flirts with modern sounds, never losing the swing and groove. Together with the young and energetic appearance of the band this will offer audiences inspiring, innovative concerts. With this, the band will make jazz more accessible for a wide audience and younger generations.

Chris Muller
(Nijmegen, 1998) is a Dutch pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing classical piano at a young age but found his passion in jazz soon after. After getting a bachelor’s degree in applied physics at the TU/e at the age of twenty, he decided to pursue his musical dream at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He followed a double degree Jazz Piano and Arranging, from which he graduated in June 2023 both with a cum laude degree. Chris has shared the stage with many musicians from the Dutch jazz scene and played with many orchestras, as for instance the the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. As an composer/arranger Chris at this point had the opportunity to write for a variety of orchestras and big bands such as the Metropole Orkest and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, and soloists including Randy Brecker, Dick Oatts and Marshall Gilkes.

In 2016, Chris took part in the prestigious Prinses Christina Jazz Contest with De PuBi’s, winning a first prize and the audience price in the large ensemble category. In 2019, Chris took part in the same contest as a soloist, resulting in a second place. The jury spoke about “very mature jazz”, “outstanding communication” and expressed their appreciation for the brand-new composition Turning Thoughts.

As a bandleader Chris plays with his own trio, and as a pianist, conductor, and arranger he leads the Chris Muller Bigband. This band was founded in 2021 and now is one of the youngest professional big bands in the field. Also, Chris works together with Steve Galloway, former member of the Basie Bigband, to form the Galloway | Muller Collective. As sideman Chris has been part of multiple bands and orchestras, such as the Jong Metropole, BOSCO and the Dual City Concert Band.

This album contains no booklet.