Monday, December 27, 2010

The Funky Groove of Trio Beso


Phish, Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Funkadelic...these are all seriously classic, memorable jam bands. What did they all have in common? Well, their era, for one. And, their sound! They all sounded pretty similar. Which is not a bad thing in this case, because they were all known for their own unique take on a specific jam band sound.

That being said, when I first heard Trio Beso at their CD launch party a few weeks ago, it was safe to say that I was pretty blown away. What I heard, was a funky jam band groove, with some extra punch, setting them apart from that typical jam band sound. That punch could include anything from the unexpected soothing violin sounds, to the tap dancing performance, (only included when you get the chance to watch them play live, in which they take some time to jam out!) 

The band consists of three members, known as Benjamin Nitze, (piano, percussion, drums) Adriel Williams, (violin) and Adonis Tsilimparis, (vocal, guitar, bass). 

Trio Beso has a sound that captures a lot of emotions in one, because it really is and can be defined as feel good funk music. Technically, according to their website, they are classified as "lounge/pop/progressive" but I think that feel good funk music just about encapsulates that general idea. I'm listening to Nuestros Suenos right now, and I've gotta say that the enchanting tremolo sounds of the violin from the very beginning of the song have me hooked. After that, there's some keyboard that kind of gives a sexy sultry feel, paired with bass and some kind of... maraca instrument I guess. It's a sound reminiscent of a toned down Jamaican love song, but without the cheesiness. The violin re-enters, with soft and soothing sustained notes, and then the guitar enters with a twangy, (in a good way) 90s love song feel. A slow jam. That's all I can think of to describe it. There are no vocals. Just slow jam, mood music really. The perfect lead in to the following song, Wide Awake, which sounds exactly as the song title says: active, lively, and upbeat.

Also keep in mind that I saw the trio play at Nitze's apartment, which is funky and spacious to say the least. It really helped set the mood for this band's feel good sound, and it totally contributed to the audience's appreciation for the music. The apartment itself was just a slew of large rooms, which eventually led us to the spacious living room space that included a Grand Piano. I was impressed to say the least. (If that didn't impress party-goers, they could check out the bathroom near the kitchen, fully equipped with a sauna and a surprise kitty cat, which I discovered by mistake...)

The apartment decor was a combination of tribal, artistic, and general knowledge of the world. Worldliness, I guess...is the proper word for it. 

While the band played, the audience danced. And let me tell you, did these guys know how to make a crowd dance. There was so much energy between the audience and the band members, everyone was moving whether they wanted to or not. Behind me, a projector played a slideshow of The Burning Man festival in Nevada, which only further enhanced the artistic, creative mood of the entire "show". 

The night was further topped when Moon Hooch made a special appearance and rocked the audience silly with their fun music. I guess I'm just not over how awesome that night was. But the mood was set with Trio Beso, and let me tell you, they certainly left a lasting impression on me.

Their album is now out on iTunes, and if you want to learn more about them, you can find them on Facebook, Myspace, and access from their nifty little website

Cheers to all, and happy holidays : ) 

Friday, December 17, 2010

Blast from the Past: 1920s Big Bands

I always tell people whenever I go home to Connecticut that I have the most gifted and talented friends. Seriously. Especially, in New York City, as of recently, my friends have really been doing a great job with impressing me. A good half of my friends are musicians, studying music at school, and if they aren't studying it, they're playing on their own time. For me, this realization was confirmed after I saw my friend Franky Rousseau's, Big Band perform at a loft space in the McKibben Lofts.

Let me begin by saying that the lofts are a special place. Like any artistic space located within a city, they are riddled with graffiti, tall and looming with floor to ceiling windows, and somehow have the capability of emanating music to anyone's ears within a 2 block radius. The space is known for being inhabited by musicians, artists, and other creative minds of the like. You can tell when you walk in between the two almost identical buildings that face one another, by looking through the windows that the people who inhabit the space, are creative.

So it came as no surprise when I was invited to see Franky Rousseau's Big Band perform at our dear friend Pedro Barquinha's loft space. I must say that the cops driving by the street, slowly, kind of skeeved me out before I had even entered the building. But there was nothing to worry about, for as soon as I went through the door to Pedro's apartment, I found dozens of hipster New School familiar faces. As I made my way to a miraculous free spot on the couch next to a friend of mine from the jazz school, I no sooner found that the music was about to start.

In front of me, assembled about 20 musicians ranging from trumpets, to trombones, guitars, saxophones, and drums. I'm probably forgetting an instrument, and for that, I'm really sorry. But all I can say right now is that when Franky, (situated in front of the band, a few of people in front of me) started to conduct the band with an intro I just wasn't even expecting, I knew this music would be different from anything I'd ever heard. And it most certainly was! While it definitely had a 1920s feel to it, there was so much creativity and thought that went into the unique qualities of sound that the band produced, it was hard to not feel like I was in some swanky jazz club in the 1920s. Had there not been so many people, there may have been a dance party right off the bat, but everyone was squished together, and some people were even seated on the lofted areas of the room, above the entire crowd.


One song they played, (which unfortunately I know none of the names of the songs...) began with the sound of children and babies talking in some sort of classroom context. I thought it was kind of silly, but what came after had me blown away. Start off weird, and go out with a bang, should be every band's motto...because, just like a good lede in journalism, a good intro to a song has the audience hooked and wanting more. And everyone at this party wanted more. So much so that when the band finished playing their sets, the room not only exploded in monstrous applause, but I got the sense that everyone wanted to hear more. I don't think it was up to us, because I'm pretty sure Franky had the band play every song that they had practiced. 

This post is obviously a  little different than my other posts because, yes, it is about a friend, but mostly because I actually don't have any facebook, myspace, or website to refer you to. Franky's band is something he's put together outside his studies at the New School for Jazz. He actually plays the guitar, but lo and behold, he's got a knack for conducting. 

I will be uploading a couple videos I took later this weekend, but for now, enjoy some of the photos I was able to catch. The lighting was really interesting and kind of set a sultry, seductive feel to the apartment...

(my friend Sarah Safaie, on baritone saxophone)




Sunday, December 5, 2010

Would You Like Paper or Plastic?

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Three weeks ago, the last thing I would have ever thought of when hearing, Paper or Plastic, was music. Three weeks ago, I discovered a band by the name of Paper or Plastic, and surely enough, I began to hear the name with a different attitude. No longer did I think of grocery stores and bagging clerks. Instead, a Portland, Oregon-born indie pop rock band entered my mind. 

Paper or Plastic is the name David Pollock, Ian Christensen, Joey Harmon, Ian Millhollen, and Ari Chersky, have chosen to call themselves and man...it works. It just fits their personalities, and it fits their style of music. I interviewed them a couple weeks ago for an article I was writing about them for campusounds, but I'm not going to talk about that interview right now...instead, I'd like to talk about the show they put on at Cameo Gallery this weekend in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The band consists of a guitarist, (Chersky) a vocalist/pianist, (Pollock) a bassist, (Millhollen) drummer, (Harmon) and a saxophonist/tambourine player, (Christensen). Quite the assortment, I know. I'd like to just say that the saxophone player is absolutely as awesome as you'd think. He gives the band a whole new flavor of sound that is just so unexpected and downright groovy at the same time. With David's clean and clear vocals, and Ari's articulate guitar skills, the saxophone serves as a really sweet surprise.

I'd been to the venue a couple times before this past Saturday to see other friends play, so I knew what the space was like. It's a great place for new bands to play at, because there's such a nice atmosphere upon entering, and then an even nicer atmosphere when you actually reach the stage, which is situated through a hallway at the back of the bar/restaurant. 

The performance itself was fantastic. The crowd was on the lighter side, but the guys put all their heart into the performance. David's vocals shone through the bands' explosion of sound on stage, but I think what really made it for me was Joey's power and drive. At any given moment, I'd look up and find Joey mouth wide, smiling, tearing apart the drums. And man, he knew exactly how to tear them up. His drive and force really grounded the band well, and never did I ever feel that anyone was lost at any point of the show. There was also a really pure feeling to their sound, like you could totally feel their excitement on stage. At one point towards the end of the show, David, while still playing the piano, slammed a hand down on one of Joey's cymbals. 

I talked to Ari after the show, and he told me something interesting. He mentioned that he was the newest addition to the band, and that this was the first time he felt like he actually knew what he was doing. But he also said that the best part about playing with the guys, is how he could say something to Joey during the performance, (recommendation, or to change something up) and he'd just nod and go ahead and do it. They all just listen to each other so well, both through physical musical language along with spoken language. 

Overall, they put on a pretty great show. I brought a friend who'd never heard them before, and she told me after that she really liked their sound, and energy.

I want to say more, but I want you to judge them for yourselves. 

Cheers.