ABOUT
I am a full-time pro keyboardist. Play all styles of piano, especially jazz, Latin jazz, funk, fusion, RnB, rock (all genres/decades), country, blues, gospel, Americana and theater. Attended McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul for Keyboard Performance. I am classically trained and have had add'l 12 years private study in jazz, Latin jazz, blues and theory. As a professional I have averaged 240 shows a year for the past 15 years except 2020/21 due to CoVid-19. I only had 124 shows in 2020 and 156 shows in 2021 and much of it was online performance.
I always welcome a chance to perform on the seas or overseas. I toured Germany in 2005 for 5 weeks. In 2014, I completed 6 months of onboard gigs in the Bahamas with a show band for Carnival Cruise Lines. Performed at the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland in 2015, the Chicago Blues Fest in 2016 and toured São Paulo, Brazil in 2016, all with Willie Walker. I've played and currently play at numerous festivals throughout the USA with many local and national acts.
While in the Twin Cities I am primary keysman in several bands:
Capital Sons (original rock)
Tom Bright's Space Jam (jam band)
Mia Dorr and the Funkin' Bluesers
Mia Dorr tribute bands (Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt)
Mia Dorr Trio/Duo (blues/r&b/pop)
No Limits - the B Side (RnB/pop/funk)
We Still R (tribute to Willie Walker/ classic RnB/blues)
Maurice Jacox (r&b/jazz/funk)
The Blue Water Kings (wedding/corp contract)
Tyte Phitt (r&b/dance)
Moonlight Serenaders (big band/dance)
Acme Jazz Company (big band)
I also perform as a sub or add'l player with:
Shoreline (Americana/rock/pop)
Kendra Glenn Band (smooth jazz/pop/r&b/blues)
Universal Artist Movement (r&b/pop)
Jason Weismann Duo/Trio (smooth jazz)
Richie Lee (50's rock revue)
River City Jazz Orchestra (big band)
Tom Bright/Sonic Jones/Big Friendly Giant (jam bands)
Joe Covert (nostalgic rock)
The Committee (classic r&b/disco)
Herman Jones and the Exciters (soul/r&b)
Dorothy Doring (r&b /pop /jazz)
Nathan Berry (prohibition jazz)
Jim Stairs (blues)
Steve Sullivan & the Factory (variety)
My Funk Brother (r&b/funk)
Ameet Kamath as AK & the 45s (R&B/pop)
Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra
LaValle Jazz Septet
New Experience (soul/r&b)
Ross William Perry (SRV tribute)
Funktion Junction (rock/R&B /funk/dance)
Dap Squad (variety)
Bella Diva (rock/ variety)
Jelly Bean Johnson (acid rock / funk / soul)
Dan Ristrom & the Big Throwdown (funk/variety)
3 Beer Warmup (rock)
Whiskey Monday (cow punk),
In2ition (funk/rock)
Mick Sterling (variety)
The Marauders (rock)
and Big Toe and the Jam (dance/variety).
Available and open to all genres. Always looking for a new original band that wants to tour. I always keep a new project or two under development.
Previously I played in these bands:
Ray Covington (pop/r&b)
Dee Miller Band (blues)
Willie Walker (r&b/jazz) toured Brazil, Switzerland, Chi BF
Wayne Luchau (50s/60s pop/rock)
Colleen Raye Productions
Rare Medium (jazz/acid jazz)
MPH...Monk Prophet Helena/Hercaleah (neo soul)
Mandy Jones (jazz/pop)
the Ploof Brothers (variety)
the Shaw Brothers (variety)
Not Guilty Band (rock/R&B /funk)
Joan Hutton (jazz)
Fergus Plinko (Americana /psychedelic)
The Green Project (prog rock)
Mueller-Parsons Project (jazz)
A Hard Day's Night (Beatles tribute)
The Shadows w/Dick Dunkirk (50s tribute rock/pop)
The Henchmen/ Capt. Mike and the Totems (alt rock/ psychedelic)
Eclectics (variety)
Karl B and the Soul Surgeons (funk/fusion)
Snak Attack (urban funk/jazz)
Kenny and the Bastids (jazz)
the Tesfa Combos (jazz)
8 Switch (rock/funk/RnB)
Love Deluxe (Sade tribute)
Roger James Quartet (jazz)
Prior Avenue (classic RnB /soul/funk)
Jeff Wenberg (rock)
University of St. Thomas Jazz Ens. (big band)
M Theory (rock & soul revue - toured Germany 2005)
The Phat Four (fusion) my high school band w/John Raymond trumpet, Owen Tucker saxes, Dan Carpel bass, Louie Glaser drums.
Available as a session keyboardist and have references available from several engineers and producers. Recorded whole albums w/ the PHAT Four (LP), Dee Miller Band (2 LP+ video), The Green Project (LP + video), Hotchie Machi Ensemble (LP), Karl B and the Soul Surgeons (LP), Wayne Luchau (EP + video), John Day (LP), Fergus Plinko (EP + video + singles), Dick Dunkirk (live LP + video) Big Toe & The Jam (demos), Prior Avenue (demos). Session work w/ Whiskey Monday (single), Capitol Sons (4 singles + LP), 8 Switch (single + video), M Theory (demos + video), Roger James Quartet (demo), Captain Mike and the Totems (demos +singles) Rare Medium (video), Willie Walker (video), Ameet Kamath (video).
I have also contracted w/ St. Paul Public Schools as a music director / accompianist each year from 2007-2013. I perform for several churches of various denominations every Sunday and during the Holiday seasons.
I can be contacted at: [email protected]. Visit
"www.jessemueller.com" for more samples, vids and schedule.
- Screen name:
- funkmasterjesse
- Member since:
- Sep 10 2009
- Active within 1 week
- Level of commitment:
- Touring
- Years playing music:
- 30
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 6-7 nights a week
- Most available:
- Nights
Instrument experience:
- Keyboard:
- Expert
- Piano:
- Expert
- Background Singer:
- Moderate
- Other Percussion:
- Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Currently use a Nord Stage 2, Nord Stage 88, Roland FP-3, MicroKorg 37 Synth/Vocoder, Korg Triton LE, CSV 12.2 for performance. Also use from time to time K5M sound module for analog synth and a Mackie 802-VLZ3 digital mixer. Apple laptop w/Garage Band and Logic Pro. And grand piano wherever one is available.