Triosk
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Jazz and electronica music albums |
Triosk was an innovative ensemble combining jazz and electronica, established in 2001 by Adrian Klumpes (piano, Rhodes, sampler), Laurence Pike (drums, percussion, programming), and Ben "Donny" Waples (electric and acoustic bass). The group dissolved in 2007. While their foundation lay in jazz, their musical approach integrated electronica alongside aspects of musique concrète, utilizing loops featuring hisses and crackling sounds. Their discography includes three albums: 1+3+1 (November 2003), a joint effort with German electronic musician Jan Jelinek released on the Berlin-based label ~scape; followed by Moment Returns (11 October 2004) and The Headlight Serenade (12 June 2006), both issued through The Leaf Label.
History
Formed in Sydney in 2001, Triosk fused elements of jazz with electronica. Stuart Nicholson of The Guardian observed that the trio drew inspiration from the Bill Evans Trio and Jan Jelinek, blending introspective jazz sensibilities with minimalist and electronic influences.
According to K. Ross Hoffman from AllMusic, the band's mission was to create improvisation-driven music where electronics played an integral and equal role. They expanded the traditional jazz piano trio by incorporating minimalism and electronica, achieved through layering and manipulating acoustic instruments either live or during post-production.
Their inaugural album, 1+3+1, a collaboration with Jan Jelinek, was launched on 1 November 2003 via ~scape. Nick Sylvester of Pitchfork awarded it a 7.3/10, describing it as jazz rooted in loops with minimalist composition influences and hints of post-rock.
The follow-up album, Moment Returns, produced and edited by Laurence Pike and released on 11 October 2004 through The Leaf Label, earned a 3.5/5 rating from AllMusic's Joshua Glazer. He praised its warm sonic textures reminiscent of classic jazz moods, though he noted the sparing use of conventional jazz components such as chords and melodic lines.
Their third release, The Headlight Serenade, issued on 27 June 2006 and produced by Richard Pike (Laurence’s brother), received acclaim from Hoffman for its conceptual minimalism that emphasizes texture over melody or rhythm. He positioned it closer to ambient and electronic music than traditional jazz, rating it 4/5.
Laurence Pike also contributed to the experimental rock outfit PVT (Warp), Roam the Hello Clouds, and toured alongside artists including Flanger, Savath and Savalas, Jack Ladder, Qua, as well as jazz icon Mike Nock. Adrian Klumpes released his solo record, Be Still, on The Leaf Label towards the end of 2006. Both Moment Returns and The Headlight Serenade featured co-production by Richard Pike.
In 2022, Triosk briefly reunited for a singular live appearance at Sydney’s Phoenix Central Park during Strata, a small festival focused on jazz and experimental music curated by Pike.
Members
- Adrian Klumpes (piano, Rhodes, sampler)
- Laurence Pike (drums, percussion, programming)
- Ben 'Donny' Waples (electric and acoustic bass)
Discography
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1+3+1 (with Jan Jelinek) |
|
| Moment Returns |
|
| The Headlight Serenade |
|
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (AIR Awards) celebrate the achievements within Australia's independent music industry each year. |- | 2007 | The Headlight Serenade | Best Independent Jazz Album | |-