Bassist Mario Pavone and guitarist Michael Musillami played together for many years before embarking on this, their first full-length studio project. Their ensemble, which performs under the name Motion Poetry, includes pianist Peter Madsen and drummer Michael Sarin. All four of these great players share a strong connection with alto saxophonist and composer Thomas Chapin, who died of leukemia in 1998 at the age of 40. Pavone and Sarin, in fact, were two-thirds of the Thomas Chapin Trio until the very end.
Like Chapin, who in death has become a cult icon, Motion Poetry boldly negotiates the tonal/atonal divide. They often unsettle their straight-ahead jazz vibe with a rhythmic and harmonic freedom that skirts the edge of the avant-garde. Pavone and Musillami write the bulk of the group's material.
After setting the mood with a collective free improvisation titled "Foody," the quartet launches into Pavone's "3m Blues," an up-tempo track that continually alternates between a repetitive chordal vamp and breakneck 14-bar blues. Thomas Chapin's angular, mid-tempo swing tune "Poet o Central Park" follows, with strong soloing by Musillami. Madsen reaches astounding, passionate heights on Musillami's ballad, "Emmett Spencer," as well as on Marty Ehrlich's beautiful "Lament in Passing."
Pavone's "New Socks" and "Song for M" are riveting exercises in brisk, atonal swing. The latter, one of the album's most involved tracks, begins with a dark guitar and bass intro, then eases into a hip unison head and a hot guitar solo without piano comping. Madsen worms his way into the action with a repeated low-register riff, and following his solo the intro section returns. If it sounds like a musical journey, it is, and so is the finale, Musillami's tension-filled "Archives." A fine debut by what will likely become known as one of the most potent improvising ensembles around. - David R. Adler
While credited to bassist Mario Pavone and guitarist Musillami, Motion Poetry is truly a group effort. Their quartet (with pianist Peter Madsen and drummer Michael Sarin) enjoys a remarkable level of cohesion and energy. The demanding compositions on Motion Poetry (by Pavone and Musillami, as well as Thomas Chapin and Marty Ehrlich) require rock-solid on-the-spot tightness.
The mostly upbeat character of these tunes emphasizes punch and groove. Motion Poetry, as the title suggests, emphasizes the development of melodic ideas within a driving rhythmic framework. This means the quartet pulses with energy, utilizing guitarist Musillami's greatest strength: the integration of singing melodies with clever manipulations of time. (Humming along with his solos, the guitarist seems to celebrate every note.) Musillami certainly deserves much more attention as a guitar stylist and composer.
And Pavone is his ideal foil, playing off the guitar lines as much as he interfaces with the percolating rhythms of Michael Sarin. Pavone pushes the edge into free-bop—equally at home laying down walking basslines as he is supporting melodic development, gliding between styles with a remarkable fluidity. Pianist Peter Madsen's attention to harmony helps protect the generally fast-moving changes, and he's not at all averse to throwing his weight around with punchy clusters and angular melodic lines.
Indeed, Motion Poetry has a magical glow, combining irresistible forward momentum with enough unexpected twists and turns to make every step forward a delicious surprise. - AAJ Staff
Tracks
1. Foody (Musillami/Pavone)
2. 3M Blues (Mario Pavone)
3. Poet O Central Park (Thomas Chapin)
4. Emmett Spencer (Michael Musillami)
5. New Socks (Mario Pavone)
6. Lament in Passing (Marty Ehrlich)
7. Song for M (Mario Pavone)
8. Achives (Michael Musillami)
MICHAEL MUSILLAMI guitar
MARIO PAVONE bass
PETER MADSEN piano
MICHAEL SARIN drums
Recorded May 28, 2000 at Northern Track Recording Studio, New England
Playscape Recordings - PSR538