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..The CHOP SHOP PROJECT
GOODBYE AND THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT THRU THR YEARS
CHOP SHOP PROJECT was the result of a chance meeting between two of Detroit's most repected and talented musicians Charles Stuart and Mikhal Caldwell that took place in the mid eighties. They developed a amazing sound but never managed to get along well together for more than it took to record. There's a million stories but the truth is some of the most beautiful things come from Yin & Ying type situations. They were like TNT & C4 very powerful together ,but bound to explode if handled to much carelessly.Both were at that time already well known as "chops' kinda players and fusion guys. Both of these musicians have long been considered virtuosos. Charles was and still is a 1st call session drummer ,and was at the time doing up to 3 gigs in a day,playing in a multitude of styles and locking himself away and doing Zen like woodshedding, and doing recording sessions while handling a massive teaching rooter.Mikhal was at the same time hosting a weekly television show the mutli award winning " Fretboard Frolics", playing in Detroit's first instrumental neo classical metal band 'Electric Warrior" , working in the fusion band "Clinic" ,teaching and training for his other career as a professional fighter. According to both they had heard of each other through a network of Detroit's small progressive / jazz musicians , a call was made by Mikhal to Charles and they made plans to engage in a "progressive" project which never happened due to both guys just plain being to busy to commit to a demanding project such as they were planning. 1996 , A phone call from Charles and plans are made again this time there's time and both musicians had become MONSTER players and mature well rounded musicians. After the first meeting and the material was discussed and planned within and 2 weeks the project was recorded/mixed by Jay ( Coo Coo Bird) Clifton ( an experienced Muay Thai fighter )who also served as referee in the sessions. They managed not to " kill each other" and the result was the all acoustic instrumental CD "Earth Music" . Both the recording and the musician's performances receieved rave reviews.
 | CHOP SHOP PROJECT: Earth Music
Where fusion, jazz, world and acoustic virtuosity meet.
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Both were exicted to push into the " Electric Zone" and the material was written by Mikhal for the next CSP recording " Leap of Faith" . Realizing that a Bassist would be needed to express the complete vision of the compositions and to ever perform the music live, the search for a bassist began. After a year of searching the task of playing bass was given to Mikhal, who then went and purchased a 6 six bass and within 2 weeks the CD Leap of Faith was done. Freeman Spells Jr was brought in to perform live material, but CSP still needed a bassist. To this end there had been an on going search for a permanet bassist . They laughing say that they were the Detroit Fusion Blues Brothers ! Both musicians say in a word the problem is 'CHOPS" ! .
Both are also involved in outside projects such as "The Charles Stuart Trio' and Mikhals solo project " Reality Check" as well as with other musicians and sessions. These two musicians have forged a trail into the new fusion movement that can be traced back to over a decade of ground breaking fusion to a whole new generation of listeners and musicians. CSP has been a ground breaking unit in the Detroit area as the guys who pushed the limits. Unfortunately differences in lifestyles and personal matters finally became to much to deal with, Mikhal made the decision for this project to come to a close in Dec. 07. With no fights or missing family members,two powerful musicians with a love/hate relationship that managed to have made great music for 10 years before burning out ended their project and contact. Not bad indeed. All the best to both of these guys in their music careers.If you are interested in purchasing CSP CD's , Check out CD baby. Thanks for the visit.
..REMEMBER LIFE IS LIKE FUSION MUSIC............ IT"S FULL OF COMPLEX CHANGES, AND YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO IMPROVISE TO KEEP THE GIG !
It was a great time (when it was over ha ha)!!
Thanks from CSP
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