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Rhinoceri Trio

The Rhinoceri trio, named for the most ponderous and terrifying beast of the primeval forest, both ponders and terrifies. Firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, the group's repertoire spans and blends a tapestry of influences from Ellington's jungle jazz, Eastern European folk music, Ornette Coleman, Bach, Wagner and minimalism. 

Given the history of the its members, the Rhinoceri Trio's wide musical pallet is hardly surprising. Cooney and Mervine are both members of West Philadelphia Orchestra, a balkan brass band. Cooney and Coyle play bluegrass together in Noggin Hill (with Cooney on banjo) and have collaborated on several film scores. All three are at home in many genres: Mervine plays in the Klez Dispensors, the Panorama Jazz Band, and has toured with Ari Up. He has spent the last year in Brazil absorbing the local folk-samba traditions. Cooney plays classical music in the New River Trio, composes extensively for choir, and works as an arranger for pop groups like Dr. Dog and Buried Beds. Coyle is a founding member of the experimental rock project Son Step, works with Keisha Hutchins and Gillian Grassie, and performs all over Philadelphia in various jazz projects.

Perhaps this is why, in their new album "Libera Me", Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" evolves from a brooding study in counter-point into an other-worldly cry of explosive energy, or why the Overture to Wagner's Tannhäuser finds itself in a lilting Macedonian 11/8 groove. For the Rhinoceri Trio Bach is just as comfortable in a moody salsa, virtuosic latin passages are comfortable morphing into minimalist textures, Debussy is at home in a Bulgarian 7/8 in the style of Ivo Papasov, and the Rhino seems at home in the big city. This is as it should be in the forward-looking creative music of the new millennium.

Gear

PEEK and SON Opera Piano


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Meet Rhinoceri Trio: The Rhinoceri trio, named for the most ponderous and terrifying beast of the primeval forest, both ponders and terrifies. Firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, the group's repertoire spans and blends a tapestry of influences from Duke Ellington's jungle jazz, Eastern European folk music, Ornette Coleman, Bach, Wagner and minimalism. Given the history of its members, the Rhinoceri Trio's wide musical pallet is hardly surprising. Cooney and Mervine are ...

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Recording

Rhinoceri Trio releases debut album "Libera Me"

Source: Brendan Cooney

The Rhinoceri Trio (Brendan Cooney-piano, Greg Mervine-drums, Chris Coyle-bass) is proud to announce the release of their debut album “Libera Me." The Rhinoceri trio, named for the most ponderous and terrifying beast of the primeval forest, both ponders and terrifies. Firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, the group's repertoire spans and blends a tapestry of influences from Ellington's jungle jazz, Eastern European folk music, Ornette Coleman, Bach, Wagner and minimalism.  Given the history of the its members, the Rhinoceri Trio's ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Libera Me

Self Produced
2011

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Dr. Gradus Ad Parnassum

From: Libera Me
By Rhinoceri Trio

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