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Michael Musillami

Veteran jazz guitarist/composer Michael Musillami is known to critics as "a superior guitarist" (DownBeat), "one of the more imaginative guitarists in jazz" (Signal to Noise) and "a modern-day jazz master" (Edmonton Journal). They have also noted that his distinctive original compositions "mine not only the fertile vein of classic jazz but the outer reaches of creative music" (Hartford Courant), calling his music "honest, frequently surprising, and consistently exciting" (JazzTimes).

Born and raised in California, Musillami was inspired early on by musicians including Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Bill Evans. He studied with renowned guitarist Joe Diorio before moving permanently to the East coast in the early 1980's, working primarily in organ trios led by Richard "Groove" Holmes and Bobby Buster among others.

In addition to paying his dues as a sideman performing with musicians such as Junior Cook, Dewey Redman, and Curtis Fuller, he became a part of the circle of musicians connected to the Hillside Club in Waterbury, Connecticut, including frequent future collaborators Thomas Chapin and Mario Pavone.

In 1999, Musillami founded the Playscape Recordings label to give himself more control over his recording career, and to provide other musicians with a supportive environment for creative music. Built around a cadre of frequent collaborators, the label has garnered extensive critical praise and a catalog of more than 35 diverse releases. "Like Blue Note or CTI in their prime," writes Signal to Noise reviewer John Chacona, "Michael Musillami's Playscape label has a signature sound."

Musillami has led and co-led a variety of ensembles, recording more than a dozen CDs and touring in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. Some of his notable ensembles include the "Motion Poetry" quartet and "Pivot" quintet with bassist Mario Pavone, an octet that performs arrangements of Thomas Chapin's music, and his flagship trio featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller.

His most recent release is From Seeds, which finds him augmenting his seven year-old trio with trumpeter Ralph Alessi, multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich and vibraphonist Matt Moran.

Tags

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Multiple Reviews

Guitar Reviews: Michael Musillami, Tomas Janzon and Rafael Rosa

Read "Guitar Reviews: Michael Musillami, Tomas Janzon and Rafael Rosa" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Here are some interesting recent releases that all feature guitarists, either as bandleaders or sidemen. Michael Musillami Trio Block Party Playscape 2023 Michael Musillami's trio with Joe Fonda on bass and George Schuller on drums has been around since 2003. In that time they have released ten albums, most of which include additional musicians. This is only their fourth true trio recording and it shows how tight their musical communication has become ...

3
Album Review

Michael Musillami Trio: Block Party

Read "Block Party" reviewed by Troy Dostert


A relentlessly active and inventive guitarist whose first recordings date back to the '80s, Michael Musillami began to hit his stride in the '90s alongside veterans of the New York downtown scene such as bassist Mario Pavone, drummer Michael Sarin and saxophonist Thomas Chapin. But one of his foremost partnerships took shape in the early 2000s, when he first teamed with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, themselves long-standing veterans of creative jazz. Twenty years and ten albums later, ...

1
Album Review

Michael Musillami, Peter Madsen: Pictures

Read "Pictures" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Facciamo anzitutto un po' d'ordine: diciannove sono i brani complessivi di questo album; i dispari, tutti molto brevi (massimo 1'41"), sono altrettante libere improvvisazioni (nello specifico Promenades), sorta di intercapedini (nonché di prologo ed epilogo per quanto concerne le tracce 1 e 19) fra i brani pari, tutti intestati a un musicista specifico, pianisti (autore Peter Madsen) e chitarristi (autore Michael Musillami, ma confessiamo di non aver mai sentito nominare Robert Paris, né di averne trovato traccia sul web, almeno ...

2
Album Review

Michael Musillami and Peter Madsen: Pictures

Read "Pictures" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Guitarist Michael Musillami and pianist Peter Madsen have long traveled in the same circles, with Musillami's Playscape label showcasing both musicians in a number of their independently derived projects. But they don't often get to work side-by-side. Aside from Musillami's sextet record, Dachau (Playscape, 2006), the two have only appeared together previously on duo disc, Part Pitbull (Playscape, 2002). Their scintillating renewed partnership on Pictures shows the intervening years have done nothing to diminish their intuitive chemistry and first-rate technical ...

6
Multiple Reviews

Three Guitarists: Michael Musillami, Kristen Bromley, and Romain Pilon

Read "Three Guitarists: Michael Musillami, Kristen Bromley, and Romain Pilon" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The more adventurous and abstract forms of jazz guitar get a lot of attention these days, but these three releases prove that mainstream guitar players still have a lot to say. Kristen R. Bromley Trio Simply Miraculous Self-produced 2019 Perhaps the most amazing thing about this CD is that it exists at all. Kristen Bromley is a performer and teacher of jazz guitar who broke her arm in 2016. She damaged nerves ...

4
Album Review

Michael Musillami and Rich Syracuse: Dig

Read "Dig" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Guitarist Michael Musillami and bassist Rich Syracuse continue their engagement with the titans of the jazz world with Dig, their homage to Bill Evans. Like the discs that preceded it, Of The Night (Playscape, 2016), dedicated to Wayne Shorter and Bird Calls (Playscape, 2017), their salute to Charles Mingus, the duo approach this repertoire with both reverence and imagination, producing treatments that avoid simply capitulating to Evans' genius by opening his tunes to creative scrutiny. It's noteworthy that ...

Album Review

Michael Musillami, Rich Syracuse: Bird Calls

Read "Bird Calls" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Sofisticato lavoro in duo sulla musica di Charles Mingus, certo tra le più feconde dell'intero patrimonio del jazz, ad opera di due esperti musicisti: il chitarrista Michael Musillami,e il contrabbassista di lungo corso Rich Syracuse. Bird Calls è il loro secondo lavoro nella formazione minima --il precedente, of the Night, era dedicato alla musica di Wayne Shorter --cosa che ha permesso loro di sviluppare un fortissimo affiatamento, strumento essenziale per la riuscita di questa che può ben essere ...

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Radio

The Jazz Session #181: Michael Musillami

The Jazz Session #181: Michael Musillami

Source: Michael Ricci


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Contest

Enter the Playscape Recordings "Michael Musillami - From Seeds" Giveaway Contest

Enter the Playscape Recordings "Michael Musillami - From Seeds" Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Playscape Recordings “Michael Musillami - From Seeds“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on December 30th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Michael Musillami at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Playscape Recordings

About Michael Musillami and From Seeds In a career that spans more than 25 years, Michael Musillami has worked ...

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Recording

Michael Musillami Trio + 3's from Seeds Available Now on Playscape Recordings

Michael Musillami Trio + 3's from Seeds Available Now on Playscape Recordings

Source: Improvised Communications

Playscape Recordings is proud to announce the May 19th street date of the Michael Musillami Trio + 3's From Seeds, the first release of the label's 10th anniversary year.

The follow-up to 2007's The Treatment, his trio's critically acclaimed collaboration with renowned violinist Mark Feldman, this release finds guitarist/composer Michael Musillami augmenting his seven year-old trio, featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, with trumpeter Ralph Alessi, multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich and vibraphonist Matt Moran.

The group will celebrate the ...

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Performance / Tour

Michael Musillami Trio + 3 to Make New York Debut January 31st

Michael Musillami Trio + 3 to Make New York Debut January 31st

Source: Improvised Communications

On Saturday, January 31st, guitarist/composer Michael Musillami's newest ensemble, the Michael Musillami Trio + 3, will make its New York debut at Cornelia Street Cafe. The group will be performing new original music, which it will then record the following day for its forthcoming release on Playscape Recordings. The Michael Musillami Trio + 3 augments Musillami's longstanding core trio, featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, with trumpeter Ralph Alessi, multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich and vibraphonist Matt Moran.

“Guitarist Musillami ...

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Recording

The Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman's New CD/DVD Set Released Today

The Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman's New CD/DVD Set Released Today

Source: Improvised Communications

The Treatment (Playscape Recordings) finds Musillami's longstanding trio, featuring Joe Fonda and George Schuller, expanding its sonic palette to include the distinctive voice of violinist Mark Feldman, a 25-year veteran of the creative music scene who has recorded with Muhal Richard Abrams, Tim Berne, Thomas Chapin, Dave Douglas, Lee Konitz and John Zorn among many others.

This two-disc set features a new studio CD with five brand new Musillami originals and a high-def concert DVD documenting one of this quartet's ...

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Performance / Tour

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman: October Tour Dates

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman: October Tour Dates

Source: Improvised Communications

The Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman will tour the Northeast U.S. in early October in support of its new CD/DVD set, The Treatment (Playscape Recordings). Formed earlier this year, the group augments the well-documented chemistry of guitarist/composer Michael Musillami's longstanding trio, featuring Joe Fonda and George Schuller, with the distinctive voice of acclaimed violinist Mark Feldman.

Click HERE to watch a free clip from the band's forthcoming live DVD.

Complete tour itinerary:

Wednesday, October 3rd at 2:35 p.m.

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Performance / Tour

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman: Live Dates and New CD

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman: Live Dates and New CD

Source: Improvised Communications

Guitarist Michael Musillami and his longstanding trio, featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, will perform two live dates in the Northeast in early May with special guest, violinist Mark Feldman. The quartet will perform May 2nd at Brooklyn's Barbes and May 3rd at Lakeville, Connecticut's Hotchkiss School before entering the studio on May 6th to record a new CD. Feldman will appear on every track of the forthcoming CD, which will feature new Musillami originals written specifically for ...

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Music Industry

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman to Tour and Record in May

Michael Musillami Trio with Mark Feldman to Tour and Record in May

Source: Improvised Communications

Guitarist Michael Musillami and his longstanding trio, featuring bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, will perform four live dates in the Northeast this May before entering the studio to record their third CD with special guest, violinist Mark Feldman. Feldman will perform with the group on two of the May gigs and all of the tracks on its forthcoming CD, which will feature new Musillami originals written specifically for this four-piece ensemble.

“I've felt a strong connection to Mark's ...

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Event

Michael Musillami Trio at Hartford's Mezzanine December 29-30

Michael Musillami Trio at Hartford's Mezzanine December 29-30

Source: Improvised Communications

Friday, December 29th and Saturday, December 30th at 8:00 p.m. Michael Musillami Trio Mezzanine 960 Main Street in Hartford, CT $10 cover charge Venue information is available at (860) 524-9590

Veteran jazz guitarist/composer Michael Musillami will bring his long-standing trio to Hartford's Mezzanine on December 29th and 30th. The all-star group, which also features bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, will be performing selections from its two ...

Musillami's abilities on his electric guitar are without parallel. And there is no question that he feels every note that every instrument makes.
--Lyn Horton, All About Jazz

Musillami has developed a very distinctive guitar voice over the years. His early work was fluent and well-executed, but in recent years his playing has matured, along with his writing ability.
--Chuck Obuchowski, Hartford Courant

...he continues to assert himself not only as a very competent performer, but especially as one of the most innovative composers on the scene.
--Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Block Party

Playscape Recordings
2023

buy

Pictures

Playscape Recordings
2020

buy

Dig

Playscape Recordings
2019

buy

Life Anthem

Playscape Recordings
2018

buy

Bird Calls

Playscape Recordings
2017

buy

Of The Night

Playscape Recordings
2016

buy

The Treatment

From: The Treatment
By Michael Musillami

Seven Blend

From: Fragile Forms
By Michael Musillami

Part Pitbull

From: Dachau
By Michael Musillami

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