Album Notes

Saxophonist, woodwind player, composer, and arranger Michael Mull opens ears wherever he brings his music. Holding a Master's Degree in Music from the notorious California Institute of the Arts, Michael received his undergraduate training at Cuesta College and CSU Northridge, and has studied under such great improvisers and composers as James Miley, George Stone, Matt Harris, Liviu Marinescu, Larry Koonse, Joe LaBarbera and Rob Lockart. Michael has developed a sound and style of his own that permeates both his playing and writing, drawing from a diverse pool of influences.

On his debut album as a leader, "FORMATION", Michael brings together young jazz virtuosos Ben Shepherd (double bass) and Cameron Hicks (drums) for an intense set of nine original compositions. Performing on the alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and bass clarinet, Michael leads the trio with a confident but democratic hand. The Michael Mull Trio is not a one-man-show, but rather a deep interaction between three musical elements in which electricity flows and voices bounce off of one another. Michael's compositions seek new ground in a tried-and-true instrumental format, paying homage to the traditions of the past while pushing eagerly forward.

You don't have to like jazz to listen to this music. You don't have to understand music to enjoy it. You must simply open your ears and listen for something meaningful; vitality, interaction, love, frustration, joy.