Jon Mueller

Jon Mueller was born in 1970 and started playing drums at the age of 15. For one year, he played only snare drum, which proved challenging to start a death metal band with. In 1990 he moved to Chicago, and studied drums with the late jazz legend Hal Russell, an experience that opened up a whole new approach to drumming to him. During this time he also studied film and writing, and became frustrated with how they continuously fall short of one another. He eventually received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and in 1999 finally completed the ridiculous novella Pianobread. He continues to write, but only when the voices tell him. Musically, he has been involved the groups Telecognac, Pele, and Collections of Colonies of Bees, playing drums, percussion, piano, and narrative. Always interested in the mysterious result of collaborations, he has recorded or performed with a broad range of artists, including guitarist Chris Rosenau, violinist Aranos, saxophonist Boris Hauf, vocalist/pianist Jarboe, saxophonist Steve Nelson-Raney, multi-instrumentalist Hal Rammel, saxophonist Bhob Rainey, table-top guitarist Adam Sonderberg, sound artist Asmus Tietchens, cellist Matt Turner, sound artist Achim Wollscheid, and he has also performed as part of cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm's Lightbox Orchestra. He has composed music for dance and film, has appeared on numerous CDs and LPs on labels throughout the world, and has performed throughout the U.S. and Japan. He is an active participant in organisation de Crouton - known to many people as a record label, but known to some as a strange voice in the night.