Search - Michael Musillami :: Beijing

Beijing, featuring guitarist/composer Musillami's new trio with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer George Schuller, takes its name from the title track inspired by the 1989 pro-democracy student protests in that city's Tiananmen Square. Though firmly rooted in Musillami's own trademark musical style, four other tracks also demonstrate China's thematic influence, including the brief opening statement entitled "Jade Welcoming," "Dazu," a freely improvised piece inspired by Chinese stone sculptures, "Mogao," named for China?s Mogao Grottoes, and the final track "Caterpillar," which refers to the look of the Great Wall of China to astronauts in Earth's orbit. The remaining pieces include familiar Musillami compositions recast for this new trio format and one work by the late Thomas Chapin.