A few days ago I was itching to see some jazz and found listed on lajazz.com that a group called the Robert Mullins trio would be playing in Huntington Beach (my current place of residence) at a place called the “Sandbox.” I had no idea what to expect but figured it was worth a chance. Upon entering the venue, I stumbled into a scene was a truly sureal O.C. experience. A very decent jazz group was playing for a semi large and appreciative audience at a sports bar. It was a lot like seing some cats swinging at a TGI Fridays, and the piano player and band leader, Robert Mullins, could really play. I love these kind of experiences, finding a place where good jazz should not exist but there it is, and people are digging it. On set break I hung out with Mr. Mullins and raped about music, life and the Southern California Jazz scene. After hearing that I was from New York and had gone to the New School, he invited me to sit in on the next set. I’ve been looking to get into some straight ahead swinging so I was enthousiastically down. He called the tune “Tennor Maddness” and I captured the whole thing on my iPhone recorder. Check it…

Listen:

Sitting in with Robert Mullins