Primary Instrument: Guitar
Paul Musso’s Tonescapes is a collection of beautifully melodic compositions. The CD spans stylistic breath with straight ahead jazz, Bossa Nova and Afro Cuban grooves, while still maintaining artistic continuity. Each song showcases Paul’s signature warm guitar tone, a quality that harkens back to jazz greats such as Jim Hall, Charlie Byrd, Earl Klugh, Pat Metheney and Oscar Castro Neves. The effortless melodies of this album allow Tonescapes to be accessible to listeners from all genres. Even non-jazz enthusiasts will enjoy the catchy melodies and concise arrangements. Joining Paul on this recording is Uzbekistan born pianist Vlad Girshevich who plays with an incredible technical prowess, invoking a Keith Jarrett feel to his piano parts. Other players include Drew Morell who provides intricate bass lines to each piece, while Jill Frederickson keeps the groove moving with her impeccable drumming.
Paul Musso is an Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of the Guitar Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Paul is a freelance guitarist and has performed throughout the Colorado area with many diverse ensembles including the Colorado Symphony, the Boulder Festival Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Westcliff Jazz Festival. Paul has performed throughout Europe and the western United States. He is the author of three Mel Bay books for jazz guitar and a co-author of Mel Bay’s Master Anthology of Jazz Guitar. In this publication Paul shares authorship credit with greats such as Johnny Smith, John Abercrombie, Buckey Pizzarelli, George Van Eps, Andy Summers and many others. Tonescapes is Paul’s debut album.
Awards:
"Tonescapes" received recognition on Westword Magazine's "Moovers and Shakers List," a compilation of the best Denver based albums released in 2011.“Musso dotes on each and every note, listening to them swing and ring.” - Marc Myers, JazzWax.Com
“Musso has an understated, fluid and lyrical handle on the guitar, which fits quite well with the rest of the players on the disc.” - Jon Solomon, Westword
Primary Instrument:
Guitar
