WHAT:
The New Mexico Jazz Workshop will host jazz great Rob Mullins in concert
WHEN:
June 28th 2008 at 7 pm
WHERE:
The Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater
2000 Mountain Road NW Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 255-9798
HOW:
Cover: $12
Billed as a “Concert Under the Stars", this event will mark the first appearance of Rob Mullins in the region since 1989. “I think it will be a perfect summer concert setting to debut much of my new original material from STORYTELLER and other albums to the New Mexico jazz community", said Mullins. “I am really looking forward to the event", he added.
Mullins did a lot of gigs in the '80's in New Mexico in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe while he was first launching his career as a recording artist and touring musician. When work dried up in Denver in the early '80's, Mullins sought out nearby New Mexico as a new market for the Rob Mullins Band which at that time included saxophonist Laura Newman, bassist Marty Ruddy, and drummer Darrin Johnson. “New Mexico was a different thing altogether when we first started going down there", said Rob. “Both major cities were within an 8 hour drive of Denver, and work in Denver was looking pretty bleak at the time. I had returned from my studies in New York with George Russell and decided to start recording my music at the beginning of the '80s. After releasing 'Dancing Through the Day' on LP in 1981, I went to Santa Fe to promote the album with live shows, and Albuquerque was a natural neighboring city to do some gigs. During that time, Albuquerque had a healthy jazz scene which included the Cooperage (club) and Danbi's (club) both great venues for jazz performances. Actually, I held the album release party for 'Red Shoes' at the Cooperage. 'Red Shoes' is a very popular download on Amazon and iTunes to this day as that music was representative of a great era in jazz and some of my early work that people still enjoy."
One of the Rob Mullins fans of that time was Larry Schwartz, who is now a fixture at the New Mexico Jazz Workshop as both a business guru and event organizer. Larry contacted Rob early in 2008 about starring in the Concert Under the Stars series which he organizes on an annual basis for the NMJW.
“All of us in New Mexico remember Rob Mullins and his music from the '80's as he was a very talented and very young guy in his 20's out promoting his music and traveling the region", said Schwartz from the Workshop offices today. “Local musicians here could see the writing on the wall-Rob was destined for great things and would be going on to the big time, which he did in the following years with his 'Soulscape' record, Grammy Nomination, and move to Los Angeles. I have watched Rob's progress over the years and have enjoyed all 17 albums of his music. We are thrilled he consented to come perform here for the first time since the '80's."
Joining Rob on stage for NMJW events this summer will be drummer Evan Stone, bassist Adam Cohen, both from Los Angeles, keyboardist Louis Schwartz and saxophonist Kanoa Kaluhiwa from New Mexico. More than one event is planned for Rob's tour included a workshop for teens and adults at the Warehouse 21 Center in Santa Fe as well as clinics at Grandma's Music and other workshop events.
For more information, please contact the New Mexico Jazz Workshop at (505) 255-9798 and visit Rob Mullins website for the poster of the week's events and music previews of the songs to be performed.
Rob Mullins Entertainment
333 Washington #107
Marina Del Rey CA 90292
310-572-7245
[email protected]
www.planetmullins.com
New Mexico Jazz Workshop
5500 Lomas Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-255-9798
[email protected]
www.nmjazz.org
For more information contact All About Jazz.
