Spirits: Michael Musillami Octet
[PSR#J020104]
PERSONNEL
Michael Musillami – guitar, altered guitar
Peter Madsen – Pianist/composer
Cameron Brown – bass
Tom Christensen – tenor sax, alto sax, alto flute, english horn, wood flute
Art Baron – trombone, bass recorder, didgeridoo
Tom Beckham – vibes, marimba
Satoshi Takeishi – percussion
Michael Sarin – drums
TRACKS
1. Squid Fantasy
2. Star
3. Nambian Sunset
4. Goody
5. Spirits Rebellious
6. Circles
7. The Walking Wounded
about
Recently called "one of the more imaginative guitarists in jazz" by Signal to Noise, Michael Musillami has earned a reputation as a leader with a quickly growing and diverse discography, recording in the last few years with every ensemble size from duo right up to his new all-star octet.

Spirits is his most ambitious project to date, featuring seven exclusive reinventions of pieces by the late multi-instrumentalist and composer Thomas Chapin. The group features many notable players, including former Chapin sidemen Musillami, pianist Peter Madsen, and drummer Michael Sarin.
 
 

Reviews
Musillami's fresh version of seven of Chapin's complex originals move and groove from the start, with a firm foundation of drummer Michael Sarin (who worked extensively with Chapin in a trio setting), percussionist Satoshi Takeishi and stalwart bassist Cameron Brown. Everybody gets a chance or two to take the spotlight, and there's a lot going on underneath, with shifting combinations of instruments riffing behind the soloists. It's the right combination of players and material, smartly arranged and lovingly played; this one's a keeper.
— Stuart Kremsky, IAJRC Journal
"The compositions start out conventionally but take intriguing turns and this group keeps everything going in lively fashion. Musillami often takes the lead with solos...but everyone's voices, particularly Peter Madsen, Tom Beckham, and Art Baron are heard. This very capable group gives a lot of body and polish to Thomas Chapin's work."
— Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Favorite Jazz Recordings of 2004 List
— Ron Wynn, Nashville City Paper & JazzTimes
Top 10 of 2004 list
— Simón Calle, JazzTimes
"...music of solid craftsmanship that is not only played quite deftly, but with much conviction from all parties concerned."
— Marc Chénard, Coda
The Michael Musillami Octet shines throughout their new CD, Spirits, a tribute to the late multi-instrumentalist and composer Thomas Chapin. Inspired in part by Brazilian composers/musicians Pixinguinha and Hermeto Pasqual, Chapin's songs are a delight: the tunes are fresh and graceful, infused with a sweet enthusiasm. The octet creates a spacious, multi-layered sound that's always appealing and never overcrowded. For an eight-piece band composed of powerful, first-rate musicians, the octet manages to play quite gently, bringing the beauty of Chapin's songs to full flower.
— Florence Wetzel, AllAboutJazz-New York
Guitarist Musillami, a former musical colleague of Chapin's, breathes new life into seven of his compositions on Spirits. Musillami employs several former Chapin associates – pianist Peter Madsen, drummer Michael Sarin and trombonist Art Baron – to help him reinvent these pieces...this octet does an excellent job honoring his legacy.
— Chuck Obuchowski, Hartford Courant (Favorite Jazz Discs of 2004)
The guitarist has brought a fine cast on board to realize seven of Chapin's pieces. "Squid Fantasy", an ebullient quirky swinger that inspires a strong solo from Madsen, is the perfect way to open the tribute. Indeed the blowing is fine throughout, as one would expect given the impressive discographies of the principals.
— David DuPont, One Final Note
...an album that still surprises after numerous listens...Spirits is a world of its own full of sublime harmonies, world-percussion accented rhythm and horn shouts reminiscent of Impulse-era Mingus.
— Russell Carlson, JazzTimes
There is a constant rhythmic cohesion, even as the arrangements expand the body of Chapin's compositions and make room for the musicians to weave their spells. The fluidity and the easy interaction are evident right off. Musillami's octet tantalizes as it creates a resolute document of Chapin's music.
— Jerry D'Souza, AllAboutJazz
Chapin worked with many of these musicians – drummer Michael Sarin, pianist Peter Madsen, trombonist Art Baron – and that might explain the warm, wonderfully easy way they have with his songs...many performances resonate. With his cool command and classic tone, Baron is particularly exciting. [Musillami's] dry, natural sound and close melodic control gradually sculpt out Spirits' fundamental features.
— Greg Buium, DownBeat
...an interesting revelation...everyone sounds completely at ease with this more groove-oriented, theme-based music. Kudos to Musillami, who arranged all the material with the exception of one track each by Baron and Christensen; clearly he sees something in the material that others have not.
— John Kelman, AllAboutJazz