Bonus EP + Piano Day track 

When we recorded KNOWN-UNKNOWN we recorded a HEAP of material... too much for one album.
So.... two things... 
1. We've packaged up a nice little Bonus EP of 4 songs we love from the session..
2. We've just released another track from the recording session, in celebration of PIANO DAY, 29th March.

You'll find them both HERE

4 STAR Guardian+ All About Jazz REVIEWS! 

Trichotomy: Known-Unknown review – dreamy jazz trip into electronic territory
The Guardian
4 STARS

The much-admired Australian piano trio Trichotomy (a band with Esbjörn Svensson Trio associations but independent compositional interests and adistinctive group feel) are launching their fifth album – an advance into more electronic territory without sacrificing their rugged, hooky themes and savvy pacing and drama. The trio’s punchy grooving – under pianist Sean Foran’s fluent lines and powerful chordwork, along with bassist Samuel Vincent’s light pizzicato touch – is plainly in sharp fettle right from the playfully swerving opener, Five. There are glistening episodes of piano and bass dialogue in the trancelike intro to the eventually spookily abstract Cells and exclamatory off-kilter rhythms, such as in the dreamy Junk. Svensson would have been proud of the lyrical simplicity and gentle piano-bass exposition of drummer John Parker’s misty ballad It’s Strange Coming Back. Electronics pieces like the looping Reverie of Lack and the spacey Hemmingways reflect Trichotomy’s curiosity and the musicality that keeps their conversation fresh but undistracted. - John Fordham

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/02/trichotomy-known-unknown-review-dreamy-jazz-trip-into-electronic-territory


TRICHOTOMY - KNOWN-UNKNOWN
All About Jazz

It's been a while, 4 years to be precise, but Australian piano trio Trichotomy is back. Known-Unknown appears after a break during which the band's members have been busy with numerous other projects and sees the first appearance of a new bassist, but it takes just a few bars of "Five" to reassure fans that this cohesive, exciting trio is back and on track. 

Pianist Sean Foran and drummer John Parker are joined by bassist Samuel Vincent and all three musicians contribute compositions—Foran getting the lion's share of writing credits with six tunes. On the band's previous release, Fact Finding Mission (Naim Label, 2013), the trio was augmented by various guest musicians. Known- Unknown eschews this approach, returning to the core trio with no additional players. 

All three band members are credited with electronics, used live to alter the acoustic instruments and hence to expand the tonal variation in the music. Such alteration is subtly done, on the hypnotic "Reverie Of Lack" for example. 

Foran's "Five" opens proceedings in a fairly straight-ahead style, the trio establishing a muscularity in its playing before calming things down somewhat. It's a fine example of the band's sense of dynamics and drama. "Cells," by Parker, has more of a narrative feel: a melancholy story courtesy of melodic opening and closing passages that bookend some group improvisation. "Past Tense" is Vincent's first composition for the trio and features his mournful arco bass. On this evidence, the new member will further strengthen the band's writing abilities. 

Trichotomy's powerful, muscular, playing style is again in evidence on "Asset Or Liability"—especially Parker's drums and percussion. "It's Strange Coming Back" is another Parker number, its title perhaps a nod to the band's extended absence. It's another showcase for the quieter and more reflective side of things and the album's prettiest tune. The repetitive "Semi- Quasars" hangs around a little too long but with "Hemmingways" Known-Unknown closes on a fluid and upbeat tone. 

Track Listing: Five; Cells; Junk; Imaginary Limits; Past Tense; Asset Or Liability; It’s Strange Coming Back; Reverie Of Lack; Semi-Quasars; Hemmingways. 

Personnel: Sean Foran: piano, electronics; Samuel Vincent: double bass, electronics; John Parker: drums, percussion, electronics. 

Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Challenge Records

Review link

Bruce Lindsay

 

Vinyl cover 

The lush cover art for the vinyl edition and score book was created by the wonderful Paul Underwood. Both of these are limited edition, numbered and signed by the band...  get em quick! 

New album + Tour early 2017 

we're hard at work on post production of the new album right now.... and we're very pleased to let you all know that it'll be out early 2017, and we'll be back in the UK for shows, plus into Europe and of course at home around Australia. More specifics soon!

Sean's new album 

Trichotomy have been busy with various things over the past year, but pianist Sean has also had another project in the works.... and now it's ready!

FRAME OF REFERENCE - the new album - OUT SEPT 2nd. 

Although Frame of Reference moves away from the jagged, pulse-racing intensity of Trichotomy, it is no less fluent, tight or dramatic.  Sean's desire to work with new musicians was, in part, a response to reaching for a more ‘chamber jazz sound’. 

Throughout the eight tracks, tempos shift with pieces building and swooping with dramatic intensity.  Together, the ensemble provides sharp interplay while repeating melodies and cello accompaniment at times provide an anthemic, cinematic touch - rhythmic and hypnotic, but always with a clear melodic focus. 

Featuring the distinctive musical voices of Julian Arguelles (sax), Stuart McCallum (guitar), Ben Davis (cello) and Joost Hendrickx (drums) and Sean on piano+Fender Rhodes, Frame of Reference is a compelling piece of work. 

Trichotomy drummer John Parker was also a critical part of the process, working as mix engineer on the album and co-producing it, with the close musical connection Sean & John share in Trichotomy evident in this production as well. 

Frame of Reference is out SEPT 2 on the Australian label Jazzhead, and Sean tours it across the UK during early October and to Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne in Mid OCT. Dates are available on Sean's website -  www.seanforanmusic.info

Crowdfunding successful!! 

We're thrilled to announce that we cracked the target of our crowdfunding campaign. HUGE thanks to everyone that supported the project. We'll be hitting the studio soon, and supporters will be lucky to hear the new album before anybody else! 
If you missed out... don't despair...follow us through our mailing list and on social media and you can pre-order the album... 
Loads more info to come, but for now.. we're feeling very thankful 

Crowdfunding campaign soon + Ensemble in residence 

It's all happening.
We're just finalising our crowdfunding campaign, and it'll be live soon.... there are some SUPER SWEET rewards on offer... can't wait to share it all with you.
Also, we're proud to announce that we are ENSEMBLE IN RESIDENCE at the Conservatorium in Brisbane this year.... our first show is coming up on 16th March. New tunes in store!!!!!!!