Fragments is a collection of twelve original world jazz fusion pieces built around "fragments" of tunes "that echo around inside your head and stay with you over a lifetime." Tobin chose musical fragments from his own memory and expanded them into original works that (mostly) just hint at their origins. The album is dedicated to Paul Nelson, the late Blues Hall of Fame guitarist who convinced Tobin to begin this project and played on some of his earlier albums. Several tracks were chosen specifically in Paul's honor. Of the twelve tracks, two ("Tobacco Road" and "Feels So Good") are Tobin's arrangements, one is a new arrangement of his own piece, and the others were inspired by well-known songs that were influential in Tobin's life. Over his long and very prolific career, Tobin Mueller has shown again and again that his is one of the most inventive musical minds of our time, and this album is no exception.

Tobin Mueller leads the band on acoustic and electric pianos, organ, clavinet, vibraphone, marimba, kalimba and Trilian basses. The Netherlands' Ruben de Ruiter plays a wide range of percussion instruments, giving the music an international flavor that is vibrant and upbeat. There is a long list of guest artists performing on saxophones, guitars, horns and cello. Several of the tracks have been released as singles and several have YouTube videos.

Fragments begins with "Dueling on Tobacco Road," a blues classic composed by John D. Loudermilk and arranged by Mueller. Tobin's keys, bass and drums duel with electric guitars, horns and a variety of hand percussion instruments. You won't fall asleep to this one - great stuff! "Feels So Good" is Tobin's light-hearted arrangement of the Chuck Mangione hit tune from 1977. "Electric Boots" was inspired by Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets," but don't expect to be able to sing along! Horns, saxes and electric guitar combine with Tobin on a variety of keyboards and de Ruiter's hand-percussion, weaving the song's very familiar riff into something new. "All Come to Look for America" was inspired by Paul Simon's "America" and "Cecilia," and the themes of both songs are quoted in various parts of the piece. Woody Mankowski's vocalese blends well with Tobin and Ruben! "Winding Road" was inspired by Paul McCartney's "The Long and Winding Road" as well as guitarist João Gilberto. Its Brazilian flavor is upbeat and infectious - a favorite. "Seasons Will Pass You By" was inspired by "Close to the Edge" by Yes and retains a prog rock edge with saxes and electric guitars as well as electric bass, a variety of acoustic and electronic keyboards and percussion. Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" and "Manic Depression" inspired "Is It Tomorrow or Just the End of Time" which features Woody Mankowski singing some of Hendrix's lyrics to Tobin's music. Amit Erez supplies some impressive electric guitar along with Tobin's keyboard, electric bass and drumset, and Ruben's percussion. I think Jimi would like this one! "Apollo's Lyre Reimagined" is a new arrangement of Tobin's piece that first appeared on his Instead of Heaven album as a piano solo and was remastered for his Best of Tobin Mueller, Vol. 5. He re-arranged it for piano and multiple percussion instruments for this album - a very interesting variation! "No Place Like Home" also appeared on Best of Tobin Mueller, Vol. 5 and was inspired by Harold Arlen. Woody Mankowski's soprano sax creates a compelling trio with Tobin's acoustic piano and Ruben's hand percussion. Snippets of "Over the Rainbow" can be heard, but the slow groove is all Tobin and company's - another favorite and a beautiful close to the album.

Fragments is available to stream or download on Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as on many streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. Give it a spin!