Hailing from New York/Washington, DC area, Les Rhinocéros delivers a crazy world in sound, blending aspects of rock, world music, noise, ambient and jazz. Described as "world music from a country that doesn't exist", the group was formed in 2008 by bassist and composer Michael Coltun and has developed since then into an intense and wildly imaginative group that takes music to its extremes. Emotional, minimalistic, intense and grooving, this is music that goes beyond imagination to the edges of sanity.
Les Rhinocéros has released 3 albums (to date) on John Zorn's Tzadik Label: Les Rhinocéros (2011), Les Rhinocéros II (2013), and Les Rhinocéros III (2015). They have toured all over North America, Canada, Europe and Russia playing at venues and festivals including: SKIF Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia), International JazzFestival Saalfelden (Saalfelden, Austria), John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Washington, DC), Suoni Per Il Popolo (Montréal, Canada), Tarcento Jazz (Udine, Italy), Sonic Circuits Experimental Music Festival (Washington, DC). Les Rhinocéros has shared the stage with artist such as: Lightning Bolt, Mary Halvorson Quintet, Muhal Richard Abrams Experimental Band, Father Murphy, Pharaoh Sanders, Xiu Xiu, John Zorn, Nels Cline, Dawn Of Midi, Chelsea Wolfe, and Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog.
Michael Coltun - Bass, Effects, Loops, Noise, Toys
Amit Peled - Guitar, Effects, Loops, Noise
Jonathan Burrier - Drums, Percussion
"Let’s imagine that around the turn of the 20th century, several Eastern European Jewish clans seeking a safe haven from the escalating struggles that would lead to World War I wound up emigrating to Jamaica. Finding hospitality in the country, they decided to stick around, eventually building a synagogue to pass on their traditions to ensuing generations. Let’s imagine that way down the line, those descendants picked up on the jubilant pulse of klezmer, and became subversively determined to meld it into reggae… The three guys in experimental rock group Les Rhinocéros have basically done that- except to an even more batshit extent.” - Leor Galil, Washington City Paper
Read more
"Let’s imagine that around the turn of the 20th century, several Eastern European Jewish clans seeking a safe haven from the escalating struggles that would lead to World War I wound up emigrating to Jamaica. Finding hospitality in the country, they decided to stick around, eventually building a synagogue to pass on their traditions to ensuing generations. Let’s imagine that way down the line, those descendants picked up on the jubilant pulse of klezmer, and became subversively determined to meld it into reggae… The three guys in experimental rock group Les Rhinocéros have basically done that- except to an even more batshit extent.” - Leor Galil, Washington City Paper
"You can't miss the similarities to the big Z's late, lamented Naked City in Les Rhinos' suave ability to switch styles... Very recommended" - Richard Gehr, Relix Magazine
"Wow!! The new generation of Tzadik artists has arrived in the form of a Rhinoceros!!" - Cyro Baptista
"D.C. jazz-punkers Bungle about with klezmer and surf and dub and Camper Van Middle Eastern ska." - SPIN
“Wow, these guys are my new favorite band! It is absolute, raw, and wholly real…” - Tim Keiper (Cyro Baptista, Vieux Farka Touré, Dirty Projectors)
"If Tortoise were from Eastern Europe instead of Chicago, they’d sound kinda like D.C.’s Les Rhinocéros. And John Zorn loves Les Rhinoceros, so that’s all you need to know.” - Baltimore City Paper
"The sonic freakout that is "Coltun's Pinky Crusher" was one of the most memorable songs of (2015)." - DCMD
Show less
