Sean Foran – Piano
John Parker – Drums
Sam Vincent– Acoustic Bass
TRICHOTOMY are one of Australia’s most inventive contemporary music ensembles.
So much more than a traditional jazz trio, this group expands the capacities of the classic piano/bass/drums combination by skillfully blending dense, exciting improvisations and delicate atmospherics, conjuring up sounds of modern jazz, ambient music, avant-garde rock, free improvisation and contemporary classical music. Wonderfully unpredictable & absorbing, dramatic & always distinctive.
Formed in 1999 while studying at the Queensland Conservatorium, Australia, the group’s sound is driven by award winning pianist Sean Foran, teamed with John Parker’s expansive dynamic and timbral range on percussion and Sam Vincent’s visceral touch on the double bass.
After 2 acclaimed albums released in their native Australia, ”Variations”, their third album, was released on the British NAIM label in 2010. Critically acclaimed it enabled the trio to stamp out their own identity with a stunning clarity of sound. Engaging contrasts in dynamics & rhythmic interplay featured along with a variety of melodic and rhythmic landscapes, the relaxed structures of Foran and Parker’s intimate songwriting decorated by the group’s spontaneous musicality.
The 2011 release “The Gentle War” cemented the bands place as a trio at the forefront of creative music. Inventive, thoughtful & reflective, and with a group interplay that is captivating, the music displays a stunning restraint with an impressive attention to detail. Full of character, vigor, and imagination, with brilliant subtlety; it shows a band in full control of their sound world.
Inspired by a diverse range of influences from Aphex Twin to Vijay Iyer, and Tortoise to The Bad Plus, Trichotomy’s music combines a dense rhythmic focus with the melodic clarity of a Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau, or the modern European jazz of Tord Gustavsen & Nik Bartsch. Compositions often find a fine balance between heavily notated sections and completely free improvisations. Serious music, but immediately accessible.
In 2012 the trio, with support from The Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Queensland, the trio embarked on the creation of a large body of new work. They have collaborated with world music duo DVA, selected string quartets, and sound/video artist Andrew Gibbs for performances around Australia. With the additional support of the Regional Arts Development fund they recorded their new album FACT FINDING MISSION, released early 2013 on Jazzhead (Australia) and NAIM (UK). In a new step for the group the album is also available on LP and sheet music formats in addition to the high definition download and CD versions.
Selected performance history:
Jazzahead Festival Germany, Tokyo Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Festival, Brisbane Jazz Festival, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Canberra Jazz Festival, extensive tours around the UK, MIDEM Music Conference France & tours to Japan, Canada, China, & South America.
PRESS QUOTES
The Guardian
“These three make the resources of the conventional piano trio go a long way.” 4 stars
MOJO Magazine
“delightfully detailed ensembles, full of wit and vigour…they bamboozle with tricky time-signatures and intricate themes” 4 stars
Irish Times
“Startling contrasts in dynamics, unusual time signatures and great rhythmic flexibility are swept along in the flow of invention of exciting performances…a stunningly together group” 4 stars
BBC Music Magazine
“this is a genuine trio, with three equally important parts, and they never put a foot or finger wrong” 5 stars!
Manchester Evening News
“A suitable candidate to fill the large-shaped hole left by EST” 5 stars
TheJazzMan.com
“transcends the sum of it’s influences to come up with a powerful individual statement” 4 stars
Jazzwise
“very ‘now’-sounding…beautifully poised” 3 stars
The Evening Standard
“tuneful, scholarly approach to improvisation recalls the lyricism of EST and energy level of The Bad Plus…excellent” 3 stars