THE MICHAEL MUSILLAMI TRIO
featuring Joe Fonda and George Schuller
Friday February 19th 8pm
Bop Shop Atrium 274 N Goodman St.
in the Village Gate
$10 donation requested
We are starting Bop Arts 2010 atrium series with an old favorite, guitarist Michael Musillami and his formidable trio. They appeared here last in 2006 and delivered a superb set of jazz guitar trio music. The Connecticut- based Musillami has been recording since the late 80s and has amassed an impressive discography with a series of recordings (many on his Playscape label) with players like saxophonists Thomas Chapin and Marty Ehrlich, bassist Mario Pavone and drummer Matt Wilson. Here's what Troy Collins had to say in All About Jazz:
Why Musillami, a critical favorite, continues to fly under mainstream radar is anyone's guess. Possessing a rich, hollow-body tone and lightning-quick, angular phrasing, his singular aesthetic charts a serpentine course from Grant Green to Joe Morris. His writing blends pithy melodies and intricate arrangements with magnanimous group interplay and adventurous improvisations that are among the finest new music can offer.
It was in 2000 with the formation of his trio with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller (both old friends of the Bop Shop), that Musillami seemed to find his true musical cohorts. Through a series of three albums (Beijing, Dachau and The Treatment...the last with violinist Mark Feldman guesting) they defined a personal group style with incisive, intricate themes leading to open-ended trio improvisations of the highest order. By the time of their last album (From Seeds) they were a strong enough ensemble to add three players (Ehrlich, trumpeter Ralph Alessi and vibes player Matt Moran) to the group without affecting the group dynamic. We're really excited to be presenting this remarkable trio again and if you're a guitar player, you'll definitely want to check Musillami out.
They'll be flying in the atrium on Friday, February 19 at 8:00, so circle the date and be there.
