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Tre Corda
Contemporary Chamber Music
www.agitatedcatmusic.com

“... inventive, spirited, humorous..." — The Boston Globe

“... a sublime mix of creativity and technical expertise. TCAN's audience was stunned by this great trio."
— Michael Moran, TCAN

Tre Corda is a trio of some of New England’s finest and most diverse musicians, brought together to perform original compositions and arrangements penned by the members of the trio. Their works blend composition and improvisation in new and unexpected ways, using the musical vocabulary of classical composers like Bartok and Stravinsky, as well as songs and ideas from the worlds of jazz and popular musics. Early favorites from their ever-changing repertoire include a three movement suite based on Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti”, “Fall”, and “Pinocchio”, and Tim’s outrageous setting of the standard “Blue Moon”. The name of the group comes from classical piano notation, as an instruction to the pianist to release the soft pedal and let all three strings vibrate freely (literally “three strings” or “three sounds”), and suggests that the trio’s members, individually and collectively, are free to explore their own creative path - independent of boundaries and categories that limit musical expression. Downbeat Magazine's Fred Bouchard raved in the May 2004 issue about their self-titled debut CD, giving it 3 1/2 stars.

Tim Ray (piano) is perhaps best known as Lyle Lovett’s pianist for the past 15 years, but he also performs, records and tours with Canadian singer/songwriter Jane Siberry, and performs with many of the leading jazz musicians in the New York and New England areas. Greg Hopkins (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn) is one of Boston's most respected performers and composers, and is widely regarded as one of New England’s most distinctive musical treasures. He has led his 16 piece jazz orchestra for over 25 years, and has released CDs recently with that group, with his quintet, and his Gil Evans-inspired jazz nonet as well. Eugene Friesen (cello) is at the forefront of a new generation of musicians versed in classical, popular and world music. Friesen's gift for the responsive flow of improvisatory music has been featured in concerts all over the world with the Paul Winter Consort and with poets Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Coleman Barks.

“Tre Corda brings together an awesome array of talent, performance wisdom and stylistic variations, from classical to pop and jazz. They are world ambassadors.”  - Somerville Journal

“Tre Corda - what a marvelous recording.  WOW!  I thoroughly enjoy the beautiful writing and the great performance by all three of you.  BRAVO!” - Rufus Reid, legendary jazz bassist and educator

“[Tre Corda] combined virtuosity and intelligence in two sets of original compositions and arrangements...winning in their rhythmic vitality, play of ideas, unexpectedly fine blend and all-round engagement with the music... rhythms that left Stravinsky and minimalism gasping for breath...  That's chamber music, partner.” -Andrew Pincus, Berkshire Eagle