PEOPLE

CD is pastor-pianist's latest effort

Jon Mutchler celebrates 10 years playing at Stars Restaurant

LINDA KENDALL SCOTT: FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Within a few bars of "O Come, OCome, Emmanuel," the first track on Jon Mutchler's new CD, you'll suck in a huge breath and exhale the tension of the hectic holiday season.

Mutchler, 47, launched his fifth recording, "Incarnation: Nativity Reflections," Sunday afternoon in Semiahmoo Resort's Seaview Lobby. The CD features Christmas standards, along with three of his own compositions, played in a style that blends the subtle influence of his college instructor, Ford Hill, with the unexpected harmonies and syncopated rhythms of jazz improvisation.

The concert was part of Mutchler's 10-year anniversary celebration as the weekend performer at the resort's Stars Restaurant. He frequently plays requests and says he doesn't know how many times he's played "Memory" from "Cats."

Question: Why do you think "Memory" is requested so often?

Answer: When people dine at the restaurant, they want to hear things they recognize. Show tunes from "Cats" and musicals such as "Phantom of the Opera" are tunes that people know.

Q: Have you ever been stumped by a request?

A: Oh, yes, but it doesn't happen very often. I know by now most of the songs people want to hear. When it does happen, I make an effort to locate the song and learn it, so the next time the guest comes in I can play it. I incorporate jazz, popular, and classical music when I play.

Q: How did you learn to play so many styles?

A: I studied piano for 11 years with Nadean Clarke. (The Christmas CD is dedicated to the Bremerton musician who shared Mutchler's Sept. 11 birthday and died a few months ago. She was also the first piano teacher of his three siblings.) During high school I was named outstanding performer four times at various high school jazz festivals. I did both classical and jazz studies at Western (Washington University), where I met the requirements for both the jazz degree and the piano performance degree. I'm a composer, an arranger, a teacher, and I direct several jazz groups that perform on occasion.

Q: When did you start playing professionally?

A: My first gig was at age 16 at the officers' club at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. Semiahmoo called me 10 years ago at the lastminute to replace their regular pianist, Sid Johnson, after he died unexpectedly. I've been there ever since.

Q: You're also pastor at Ferndale Alliance Church. How does that fit in?

A: I felt called to ministry in my college years. After graduation, I went to seminary at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C., where I received a Master of Divinity in 1987. During my schooling at Regent, we lived in Blaine and attended Northwood Alliance Church. They asked me if I would go to Ferndale and start a church there. Diana (his wife for 21 years) and I started this congregation 18 years ago.

People who begin a new congregation are usually bivocational until the church reaches a size that can support a full-time pastor. Diane taught in public school seven years, and I built up a small music career to pay the bills. I enjoyed it so much that I've kept that music career going part time.

Pastoring is my full-time and first career. The substance of my music right now is the teaching and the regular performances at Semiahmoo, where I am every Friday and Saturday evening. It really is an outstanding restaurant, a great place for dinner.

Q: What's Diane doing these days?

A: Diane homeschools our six children, three boys and three girls, with a new one on the way in June.

Q: Are any of your children musical?

A: Yes they are. My oldest son, Thomas (16), is the drummer in our church band, and he's doing a great job. The three girls, Johanna (13), Emma (12), and Madalin (9), are all my piano students and also dancers at the Wendy Setter Dance Studio. Jack (6) is also a piano student. Fouryear- old Nicholas is a little young for serious training, but he loves to clown around and dance.

Linda Kendall Scott is a freelance writer. For questions or story ideas, contact Dean Kahn at dean.kahn@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2291.

Back to JonMutchler.com