Triosphere: Triosphere (2004)

Dan McClenaghan

Senior Contributor since 2002

A lover of sounds, and the way they fit together.

Recent articles (792 total)

Published: April 4, 2004

It took a couple of spins just to got accustomed to the sound of Triosphere. That's what happens when you encounter a truly original voice; and Triosphere blends two reeds and a guitar for one of the most vibrantly original voices out there.

Steffen Schorn's baritone saxophone and bass clarinet dances with Roger Hanschel's alto and f-mezzo saxophones to the rhythm of Dirk Mundelein's crisp guitar work, creating an untethered music that still maintains a high structure. Hanschel's lower end horns fits into the bass roll a good deal of the time, with Schorn blowing the melodies, or joining in the rhythm when guitarist Mundelein steps out front, an odd melding of voices that makes Triosphere one of those rare sets that shakes up the expectations, revealing new musical facets and unexplored twists of of sound.

Guitarist Mundelein seems a new millennium Django Rheinhardt at times, with his searing chording, a manic, sometimes metallic rhythm machine between intertwining horns—Hanshcel's wailing alto and Schorn's baritone sax throb.

The music on Triosphere, lacking the gravitational tethering of the ground-bound bass and drums, churns forward on its own ethereal zero-gravity inertia. Facinating, often intense, strikingly original, brimming with endless sonic possiblities. It's going to be very interesting to watch this career and hear where these guys take this thing.

Visit Triosphere on the web at www.jazznarts.com

Track Listing: In The Speed Mode, Dantie's Dance, Inner Vibes of Love, Die Leichtigkeit der Puppen, Natureza, Fraktal 1, Jandor, Riki Zauberlet, Fraktal 2, Munchhausens Winterreise, Petra vom Finanzamt, Kapt n Blaubar

Personnel: Steffen Schorn--baritone sax, bass clarinet; Roger Hanschel--alto and f-mezzo saxophones; Dirk Mundelein--accoustic and electic guitars

Style: Modern Jazz