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 : )