Événement

The Michael Musillami Trio

On Sunday September 29th at 7:00 PM The Charlottesville Jazz Society and WTJU are pleased to bring guitarist and composer Michael Musillami and his New York based trio back to Charlottesville for a concert in UVAs Brooks Hall.

In a career that spans more than 25 years, Michael Musillami has worked extensively as a performer, bandleader/composer and educator. Critics have called him "a superior guitarist" (John McDonough, DownBeat), and "an adroit and creative musician" (Michael J. West, JazzTimes). The Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick adds, "Musillami sounds familiar - this is swinging jazz guitar, after all - but not quite like anyone else." After their 2014 concert in Charlottesville, Albemarle High School band director Greg Thomas wrote to Musillami requesting sheet music for one of his compositions so that the AHS band could learn it.

Musillami has led a wide variety of ensembles, releasing 15 CDs as a leader and touring in the United States, Canada and Europe, with such prominent collaborators as Thomas Chapin, Drew Gress and Matt Wilson. 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.

This concert will feature his longstanding flagship trio with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller. Joe Fonda is a familiar to Charlottesville audiences for his many electrifying performances here with The Eastern Boundary Quartet, Conference Call and other ensembles. George Schuller has also visited town several times. He is an accomplished percussionist, composer and bandleader in his own right, and is the son of famed scholar and composer Gunther Schuller.

Tickets to see The Michael Musillami Trio at Brooks Hall on September 29th at 7:00 pm are available in advance at MMTrio.brownpapertickets.com. The cost is $15 general admission, $12 for paid supporters of The Charlottesville Jazz Society, and $10 for students. All tickets will be $20 at the door. For more information visit cvillejazz.org or call Gary at (434) 249-6191. And be sure to listen for Michaels music on WTJU-FM 91.1.