Perception

This is the "house band" for the independent Playscape label. Founder and president Michael Musillami is on guitar, with George Sovak on alto and tenor saxes, Paul Arslanian on piano, Dave Shapiro on bass, and Claire Arenius on drums. Musillami and Arslanian each contribute three tracks, and Sovak pens the remaining two. Fine, spirited playing abounds, although the album lacks the kind of compositional daring heard on Musillami's solo efforts or the self-titled 2000 release by Motion Poetry. Of the tunes here, Musillami's hold the most sustained interest, particularly the fast 3/4 workout "UPS" and the dreamy, propulsive "Those Times."