TRIPOD
Tripod (Moonjune)
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

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Tripod is a jazz power trio out of New York and this is their first release. It might be easy enough to make a big deal about the fact Tripod does not use any guitars or keyboards, but that would be selling these guys short. Regardless of the methods by which they produce their sound, Tripod's music is simply fantastic.

One thing is certain, they not producing any Kenny G. pop-goes-the-Musak here. Tripod has a manic energy and their sound is one of studied chaos; in other words it only sounds anarchic. Favorites cuts include "Jerome's Spotlight," "Trip The Light," the more sedate "Fuzz" and "Conversation Drag."

King Crimson fans will enjoy these guys. They have the same polyrhythmic density at the low end due to Steve Romano's terrific drumming, though a drummer friend says he hears more Terry Bozzio in his drumming than Bill Bruford. Also Crimson-ish, Clint Bahr's singing is often reminiscent of Adrian Belew. Interestingly on "As The Sun," and "World Of Surprise" he sings more like Greg Lake, which makes a connection to the earliest Crimson sound. Bahr's bass playing is not much like Tony Levin's though because he's using a 12 string bass. Yes, I said 12 string. You may've heard of 4, 6 and 8 but the 12 gives Tripod a fatter sound, almost like there are extra players. Meanwhile Keith Gurland's soaring horn work comes from some other constellation, triangulated in the star charts somewhere with Elton Dean and John Coltrane. Usually it's alto sax but there also some "electronic multi-horns" he uses that add even more texture.

Any one of these guys would be the front man in most bands; having them together as a trio is pretty damn powerful. I'd love to see Tripod work live.

© 2003 - Rusty Pipes