Description

Rooted in the jazz tradition, immersed in Brazilian beats, Portland-based Trio Subtonic reaches across genres, sporting a fresh array of compositions and controlled improvisations. Comprised of keyboards, upright bass, and drums, they could be described with words like funk, hip hop, latin, and contemporary classical, MMW comparisons aside.

Trio Subtonic makes music to get stuck in, to chew on, and yes, to groove. Simultaneously uplifting and weighted, collapsing and expansive, pensive and propulsive, they reach across genre lines with melody and meter to toss them in a fresh array of controlled improvisations. Dormant sounds and lush subterranean landscapes unfold; the party begins, and the infectious grooves take root.

This Portland based trio evolved from long-time collaboration between keyboardist/composer, Galen Clark and drummer/percussionist, Jesse Brooke. After spending the winter of 2005 in Brazil traveling and studying, Jesse and Galen returned to Portland and formed Trio Subtonic; with the addition of bassist Bill Athens they unearthed their inherent sound. The resulting sound infuses jazz with Brazilian rhythms, hip hop, funk and odd-time signatures, with a proclivity to groove.