Blue Side, Vol. 1 and 2 is (obviously!) a two-volume album of duets (mostly) by pianist/composer Tobin Mueller and up-coming sax superstar Tomás Martinez. I have been reviewing Tobin’s music for more than twenty years, and I still never know what to expect from him other than in-depth explorations of musical creativity in a primarily jazz style (usually!). For this album, Tobin introduces sax player, Tomás Martinez, who trained at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Manuel de Falla in Buenos Aires and the Tribeca Jazz Institute in New York. Now based in New York City, Martinez has been hailed as an “up and coming sensation,” and once you’ve heard him play, you will easily understand where that comment came from! Most of the twenty-two tracks on the album are Tobin Mueller originals, and most are duets with Martinez (piano and sax), but some tracks feature one or more of an international group of musicians that includes Mueller on piano, stand-up bass and organ; Martinez on tenor and alto saxes; Juan Torres Fernández, also from Argentina, playing backing tenor sax on one track from each volume); Dutch hand percussionist Ruben de Ruiter and Israeli drummer Shahar Haziza on a few tracks each. Quoting Mueller’s website:

Mueller first encountered Martinez when he was looking for a saxophonist for his previous project, Fragments. At that time, Martinez was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon the release of Fragments in January 2025, Martinez moved to New York City, becoming Mueller's neighbor. So they decided to record an entire album together. While in NYC, Martinez recorded an album of his own originals and covers at Rudy Van Gelder Studios, In Good Company, with Michael Weiss, David Wong and Kenny Washington, as well.

Produced by Kenny Cash and Mueller, most of the pieces on Blue Side were originally recorded as piano solos and were mixed and mastered at Factory Underground Studio. Some of the pieces have been on some of Tobin’s many previous albums, but these are all new recordings.

There are too many tracks to mention them all, but I’ll tell you about some that really stood out for me. Vol. 1 begins with “Let Me Play,” a piece that dates back to Tobin’s 2007 album, A Bit of Light. Bright and lively, this time it’s a septet for piano and bass (Tobin), alto sax (Martinez), backing alto and tenor sax (Fernández), and drums (Haziza) - a fun and very impressive start! Next up is the bluesy “Monk’s Thelonious Sphere,” a trio for piano, bass and sax that is more than a little funky (and fun!). Even though it’s one of my favorite songs, I didn’t recognize Gershwin’s “Summertime” until fairly late in the piece. The opening is a bass solo that sets the dark tone of the piece. The piano enters shortly with an improvisation that barely hints at what’s coming. Even the sax doesn’t give away the surprise until past the half-way point, although there are hints along the way when you know what to listen for. It’s a great arrangement and a fascinating listening experience to savor again and again! After several up-tempo pieces, “The Shape of Love” is a refreshing duet for piano and sax. Smooth and deeply expressive, it’s a beauty! “Tide Pools” follows and is also a piano and sax duet, this time in Mueller’s “”Impressionistic Modernism style. The music flows freely, at a relaxed moderate tempo, and with plenty of soul. The last track on Vol. 1 is an improvised piano solo called “Slow Dance” that tells quite an in-depth story without the use of words.

Vol. 2 begins with “Yin Yang,” a trio for piano and two alto saxes (both played by Martinez). Some real musical magic happens in this one! “Shenandoah” is another favorite song and this duet for sax and piano is soulful and reflective with many original touches and interpretations. I found it intriguing that “O Danny Boy” becomes the chorus, as it uses the same chords as “Shenandoah,” which has no chorus - only verses! It’s a beautiful retelling of both classic songs! “Phases of the Moon,” also a duet, is a graceful and fluid improvisation that feels relaxed and effortless - very dreamy! “Cut Flowers,” also a duet, reflects on the shortened lives of cut flowers when we “pull their life force from the garden” and put them in a vase indoors. Very sad and heartfelt, it’s a musical dialog that touches deeply. “Fallout Shelter” goes in an entirely different direction, beginning with the simulated sounds of emergency vehicles and the musical chaos that follows. Based on a piece Mueller wrote for his musical about the Holocaust, Runners In a Dream, it is a very dark piece, indeed. Shahar Haziza adds to the chaotic atmosphere with drums and cymbals before a soothing, melodic close. “A Lifetime Ago” is a reflective look back at significant events in life and how they affected us. A powerfully expressive duet that comes from deep in the soul, it’s my favorite piece in the collection. “Dénouement” is a soulful duet for piano and sax about tying loose ends together to bring about resolution. It meanders a bit throughout the piece (as it should!), explores more deeply and then ties it all together for a very satisfying close. The final track in this amazing collection is “Ghostly Bells,” an original piano solo that seems to be telling a story. The piece feels very improvised and yet there are brief quotes from JS Bach and “Yankee Doodle” that may have been intentional parts of a story or whimsical bursts of musical energy - or something else altogether. Either way, it’s an intriguing close to another musical work of art from Tobin Mueller!

Blue Side Vol. 1 and 2 are available to download and/or stream from sites including Amazon, Soundcloud, Apple Music/iTunes, and Pandora. It’s a very satisfying musical adventure!