robert muller

modern jazz | desert soul

about

Robert Muller is an in-demand pianist and keyboardist based in Santa Fe, NM, known for a distinctly modern and soulful musical approach. He’s the recipient of the 2024 New Mexico Music Award’s Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in live music and the studio. He is fluent in the language of vintage keyboard sounds, and his work is often peppered with Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, Hohner Clavinet, and analog synths.

He is the pianist for the Delbert Anderson Quartet, an award-winning group that tours the western US and Canada and that has appeared at California Worldfest, SFJazz, the National Art Gallery’s Jazz in the Garden series, and Kuumbwa Jazz. The quartet features original modern jazz compositions based on melodies from Delbert’s Diné heritage and uses themes involving the land and healing.

He was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where he studied closely with Blue Note jazz great Dr. Andrew Hill at Portland State University. He moved to New York City in the mid-90s and became active in the downtown music scene with his own trio Timefly and as a sideman for several original underground hip hop and neo soul acts. Robert appeared on MTV2 with underground hip-hop artist Pete Miser. While in New York, he performed at venues including SOB’s, The Knitting Factory, The Blue Note, Mercury Lounge, and Studio 54.

After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico a decade later, he quickly started to do studio work and performances with Grammy-winning guitarist Larry Mitchell for several award-winning artists, including NAMMY-winning singer and songwriter Shelley Morningsong.

He co-leads the modern jazz project Kodama Trio, whose eponymous debut album received 2016 New Mexico Music Awards for Best Jazz CD and Best Jazz Single. Their new album, Entriopy, is available on streaming platforms everywhere as well as Bandcamp. He records and performs with Ryan Montano, including studio work on the 2023 single Future Smooth, and appears with New Mexico artists like Hillary Smith, Artha Meadors, and Ron Crowder. The RAD MAD organ trio debuted in 2026 at the Outpost Performance Space, it features legend Dimi DiSanti on guitar and Arnaldo Acosta on drums and is currently working on recordings and bookings for the coming year.

Robert has also been a regular sideman and collaborator with Mvskoke poet/author/musician Joy Harjo in venues and festivals as far-flung as Anchorage, Alaska, and the Public Theater in New York City. In 2019, Robert was honored to appear with her at her inauguration as the 23rd US Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress. Video of the event can be found on the Library of Congress’s YouTube Channel.

He uses gear from companies including Nord, Kawai Pianos, Yamaha, Moog, Korg, Roland, Ultimate Support Systems, Bose, Apple, Focusrite, Nektar, Event Audio, QuikLok, and Ultimate Ears.

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There’s a lot of great stuff coming, and I’ll do my best to update the calendar as stuff is confirmed! I do my best with details, but it’s always good to double-check specifics with the venue.

* The Rodney Bowe Experience has ongoing nights at Sandia Resort and Casino at the top floor Bien Shur restaurant, check the website for up-to-date details, and follow The Rodney Bowe Experience on Instagram. I currently have upcoming dates with them on: August 21/22, September 4/5, September 18/19, October 16/17, October 30/31.

July 18, 2026 730pm
Ryan Montano Band
Unit B,
Santa Fe, NM

August 1, 2026 8pm
Levi Platero
Gallup Courthouse Square 8pm
Gallup, NM

Augusst 8, 2026 7pm
Toni Morgan and Got Soul
Angel Fire Summer Music Series
Angel Fire, NM

August 14, 2026 630pm
Joy Harjo
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Santa Fe, NM

August 16, 2026 7pm
Ryan Monano Band
Placitas Sandia Chill Concert Series
Placitas, NM

August 20, 2026 7pm
The Staciawa Collective
Babydoll’s House of Jazz and Blues
Albuquerque, NM

August 27, 2026 6pm
Toni Morgan and Got Soul
Kaktus Brewing
Bernalillo, NM

September 12, 2026 6pm
Michael Mattison and the Mothership
(also featuring Levi Platero and Judith Hill)
New Mexico Jazz Festival
Albuqueruqe Civic Plaza
Albuquerque, NM

September 22-October 1
Delbert Anderson Quartet fall tour
Check DelbertAnderson.com for latest updates
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September 22
Brooks Isham Performing Arts Center
Kirtland, NM

September 24
NM Tech Performing Arts Series
Socorro, NM

September 26
El Morro Theater
Gallup, NM

September 27
New Mexico Jazz Festival
Outpost Performanc Space
Albuquerque, NM

September 29
Light Hall Theater WNMU
Silver City, NM

October 1
The Gathering
Castaway Performance Space
Portland, OR
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October 24, 2026 7pm
Miles Davis Tribute
African American Performing Arts Center
Albuquerque, NM

December 3-6, 2026
Delbert Anderson Quartet
HEALING THROUGH LAND AND IMPROVISATION RETREAT
Ghost Ranch
Abiquiu, NM

January 24, 2027 7pm
Delbert Anderson Qaurtet
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA

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Some of the people and groups I have worked with:

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reviews

Despite the obviously cooperative nature of the trio, Muller’s piano dominates throughout. A percussive, muscular player in the mold of McCoy Tyner, he’s a remarkable soloist with a wealth of rhythmic and melodic ideas and a yen for dark and gnarly harmonies.

Kodama Trio CD Review (Allaboutjazz.com) 

Muller brings spritely, spiky energy that contrasts nicely with the mellower qualities of tuba and ‘bone. His adventurous, muscular solos incorporate elements from bebop to funk, with touches of hip-hop attitude.

Christian Pincock CD Review (Melminter.com) 

Muller is like a vampire in that if you invite him in he’ll always just kind of be around. Also, he’s a pretty amazing pianist, so…

Pranzo (Santa Fe Reporter) 

There are proggy elements at play that present a more rock ‘n roll sensibility than many might think when they hear the qualifier “jazz” and if nothing else, these guys are all f*cking bonkers when it comes to musicianship.

Mushi Trio Review (Santa Fe Reporter) 

Pete Miser: The piano player, Robert Muller, is just so hyper-musical, like kind of jazz-based. He’s a student of Andrew Hill. He’s so out that he goes into the anti-music zone, you know what I mean? 

Cosmik: Playing off someone who’s in that frame of mind must be kind of inspirational for you.

Pete Miser: Yeah, it’s dope.

Cosmik Debris Magazine (Pete Miser Interview)

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Sounds

I used to have a CDBaby player here but the link for that music has gone dark, I’ll update with a new player or something from Soundcloud when I get around to it, meanwhile, Kodama Trio still has 2 albums available on Amazon, and I usually have a project or two posted on Bandcamp. Meanwhile, I’m working on my own recordings, both my own stuff and an organ trio with Dimi Disanti and Arnaldo Acosta.

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Pictures

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Videos

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Contact

* It has recently come to my attention that my “contact” form broke at some point. Even though it would show a “thank you for your message,” screen when people sent me something, I was not actually getting anything sent to me.

I’m not really sure when it broke, but if you have sent me a message and I have not responded, I sincerely apologize, I always respond. I’m doing away with the whole “contact form” thing for now and you can just send me an email if you want to get in touch. robertmuller@gmail.com