The Rob Mullins Trio originally started out as a back up band to Denver club singer Ron Henry in 1983. The band was working during the week at the Bay Wolf Club in Cherry Creek (swanky part of Denver) and doing other shows on the weekends with other bands including the Rob Mullins Band.

 

The trio of Rob Mullins-piano, Marty Ruddy-bass, and John Pisci-drums became popular. This version of the Trio performed live with the Denver Symphony at Washington Park in Denver, CO. The Symphony blocked the release of the recording-the only recording of the group with an orchestra.

 

The Trio recorded “Fired Up” an acoustic trio album with Marty Ruddy and John Pisci in 1983.  Mullins was actively recording new music he was composing during this period at Daystar Studios in Denver, and made the decision to move forward with newer music (the Soulscape project) rather than spend the money to promote “Fired Up.”

 

“Soulscape” went on to get major attention around the US and prompted the move of the Trio to Los Angeles. Drummer John Pisci did not make the move, but pianist Mullins and bass player Marty Ruddy did.

Pisci was replaced by drummer Gregg Field (Count Basie, Ray Charles) and the group did numerous club gigs around LA until recording the “Jazz Jazz” album in 1989 with new members Joel Taylor and Brian Bromberg. Bassist Marty Ruddy left Los Angeles and moved to Medford, OR to pursue a new band. Sadly, he passed away in 1996 after taking a fall.

 

Dave Carpenter (bass) joined the group for a time staying on to perform at many shows and to record the “Tokyo Nights” album. The Trio toured Japan extensively during this time with the lineups of Mullins, Taylor, Carpenter and Mullins, Ruddy, Thompson (Larry Thompson, Denver drummer).

During 2007-2009 The Trio performed at various venues
around the world including Costa Rica, Panama, and Moscow, Russia using local bass and drums.

It wasn't until the long run of 2013-2019 weekly at Bandera Steakhouse in Brentwood, CA that the Trio came together with new blood in bass player Will Lyle
and drummer Nico Salvadore. The Trio recorded for
the first time in many years in 2018 and released the popular album "The Nearness of You" which spawned
the haunting original "Tango Delicioso" and up tempo
fresh versions of classic Jazz Standards.

 

Rob Mullins Trio has continued through the years as a popular private group in the LA/Hollywood circuit doing gigs for corporate events and private parties at The Millenium Biltmore Hotel and private homes in Beverly Hills area. The most recent gigs in Southern
California include "The Merc" in Temecula 2022, :La Puglia" Santa Monica in 2022 and "The Orchid Room"
May of 2023.

 

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