Still Prone To Wander: An Interpretation of Hymns (click here to jump to 2nd CD, La Place Sur La Mer)

For album description click here

1. A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD (EIN' FESTE BURG)
Martin Luther, German (8:15)

2. UNTITLED HYMN (COME TO JESUS)
Chris Rice, © Clumsy Fly Music (5:28)

3. COME, THOU FOUNT
Asahel Nettleton, American (6:31)

4. FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH (DIX)
Conrad Kocher, German (4:55)

5. I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
Robert Lowry, American (7:07)

6. WE GATHER TOGETHER TO ASK THE LORD'S BLESSING
Edward Kremser, Dutch (6:10)

7. HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE
Stuart Townend, © Thankyou Music (4:28)

8. TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Helen Lemmel/Jon Mutchler (4:54)

9. THE DOXOLOGY (OLD HUNDREDTH) PART 1
Louis Bourgeois, French (3:26)

10. THE DOXOLOGY (OLD HUNDREDTH) PART 2
Louis Bourgeois, French (5:19)

11. A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD (EIN' FESTE BURG)
Martin Luther, German (8:59) / Alternate Version

12. UNTITLED HYMN (COME TO JESUS)
Chris Rice, © Clumsy Fly Music (3:27) / Alternate Version

13. I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
Robert Lowry, American (6:47) / Alternate Version

 

Total Time 75:46 Produced by Too Mutch Music (TMM-0708)

Still Prone to Wander is a follow-up from Mutchler's 2001 CD, Prone to Wander, but his improvisation of these hymns is much freer and more avant garde. This album is in rich colors, contrasts, and emotion. The spirit and strength of some of these timeless hymns comes through in his expressive and creative playing. This album is unique and shows his comfort and skill at various styles and levels of playing. It ranges from quiet and pensive, to spirited and energetic. It is as if the artist isn t just playing, but praying this music. This is indeed something special.
From the artist s notes on the liner:

I was thrilled at how fast the music came together. Over a period of four days in early July (2008) I improvised and recorded the music you now have. Several of these tracks are first takes.

I began the recording session with a little warmup improvisation. After a couple minutes it unexpectedly took on some of the thematic material of Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. It eventually expands into this classic hymn.

My spiritual life and my music are both still prone to wander in different directions. God grants us a generous amount of freedom (which births creativity). Sometimes we exercise it wisely. Other times not. We make mistakes, but God s grace draws us back.

I've done no editing of material on this CD. I wasn't striving for perfection. It is all improvised and done largely on the fly with minimal preparation. I am exceedingly pleased with what transpired. Sure, I can listen back and point to places where I might have chosen a different note, a different chord, a different dynamic. But throughout all the wandering that takes place in some of these renditions I always seem to make it back home!

Martin Luther s timeless A Mighty Fortress is Our God was part of a jazz improvisation I performed at my senior jazz recital at Western Washington University. That was the last time I improvised on it until this album. Luther s themes are bold and fearless. I ve tried to interpret his hymn in the same way. I have included two versions of it.

Chris Rice s Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) is popular right now. Like many good hymns it tells a story of struggle and dependence upon God. I suspect it will be around for a while and have included two takes on this CD.

I have always liked the melody of For the Beauty of the Earth but I have never really played it much until I decided I needed an additional song for this CD. I kept this one very simple with an ostinato left hand staying in one position. This arrangement came together in about 15 minutes.

Our church began singing I Need Thee Every Hour after I heard a lovely worship version of this done in slow 6/8 time at a retreat. This is the third song on this CD with an alternate version included.

I happily dedicate We Gather Together to Ask the Lord s Blessing to my university piano professor, Ford Hill, who had been asking me to do an arrangement of this favorite hymn. He has now challenged me to write out a set of difficult variations on the same melody. I have some ideas. He s promised to perform it.

How Deep the Father s Love is one of our favorites at church. It is, if you notice, in 5/4 time and here I have done it fairly straight forward.

I have been singing the chorus to Helen Lemmel s hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus since my college days in Bellingham. (By the way, Helen was blind when she penned these words!) A few months ago I wanted to introduce it to our Ferndale church. I re-harmonized the melody and then added an alternate original chorus .

A wide range of church traditions sing The Doxology. At our church we sing the text to both common songs: the French melody by Louis Bourgeois and the lengthened version (also known as All Creatures of Our God and King). I am including a "Part 1" and "Part 2" rendition of the French version. The first part is slow, the second is more energetic.

La Place Sur La Mer (The Place by the Sea)

Celebrating a wonderful place, La Place Sur La Mer

Click here for album description.

1. La Place Sur La Mer
Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music (4:55)

2. Summer Breeze
Seals and Croft, © Sutjuo Music; Songs of Universal Inc (5:58)

3. Freshwater Bay at Twilight
  Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music (3:42)

4. Lyndee's Garden
Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music (7:20)

5-7. Orca:  Black and White  
  i. Prelude in Bb Minor, Book 1, WTC by J.S. Bach (3:12)
  ii. Under the Strait of Juan de Fuca (1:52)
  iii. Orcinus Orca (6:34)
Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music

8. Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof)
Jerry Bock, © R & H Music Co (5:43)

9. I Loves You, Porgy (Porgy and Bess)
Gershwin, © WB Music Corp (5:48)

10. A Wedding Song:  This Day We'll Remember
Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music (5:38)

11. Nadean (1918-2006)
Jon Mutchler, © Too Mutch Music (6:53)

12. Tara's Theme (Gone With the Wind)
Max Steiner, © Warner Bros Music (5:09)

   13. Here Comes the Sun
George Harrison, © Harrisongs Ltd (7:54)

 

Total Time:  70:38

La Place Sur La Mer (The Place by the Sea) is Jon's most creative and original album to date. Six original compositions are added to his own inspired interpretations of works by Gershwin, George Harrison, and others.

La Place was a project inspired by a special oceanside getaway on Washington's Olympic Peninsula owned by Jon's sister. It is called La Place Sur La Mer (www.MagicalBeach.com). Each song on the album has its own story as to why it was included.

The music is creative, melodic, rhythmic, colorful, and surprising at times. Whether you love jazz, classical, or new age music, this will make a unique and treasured addition to your library.

The title track is warm and magical, and makes use of the whole range of the piano.

Summer Breeze opens up into a nice improv section by Mutchler.

Freshwater Bay at Twilight is a beautiful little ostinato piece that captures the feeling of the title with a beautiful melody and dance-like improvisations around the piano keys.

Lyndee's Garden is warm and majestic and puts you into the mood of the whole album.

Orca: Black and White is perhaps the most interesting piece on the album. Mutchler has included the Bb minor prelude from Bach's WTC Book One and then uses it's theme as melodic and harmonic material for the rest of the piece. The middle section might be called "prepared piano" but is simply the use of the inside of the piano to create aquatic sounds. The main part of the piece, part 3, is deep and haunting, but wonderful to listen to.

Sunrise, Sunset is fast and rhythmic and betrays Mutchler's love of Chick Corea. I Love's You , Porgy uses some interesting and original changes by Mutchler . This Day We'll Remember: Wedding Song was Jon's original love song played at his wedding with Diane, no married 24 years.

Description of the other songs can be found on the liner notes.

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