Chris Poulsen Trio

Description

The Chris Poulsen Trio is an intensely energetic jazz/fusion combo.  Since forming in 2004, the group has released two full-length albums, and performed to enthusiastic audiences at events such as the Nepal Jazz Jatra (Katmandu), Queensland Music Festival, Valley Jazz festival, Parachute Festival (NZ) and the Australian Gospel Music festival, as well as residencies in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. With an exciting, animated stage presence and an openness to spontaneous improvisation, the group performs their original tunes, and some re-worked jazz standards. Though only an instrumental three piece, their music is full of dynamic colour, adventurous aggression and lots of fun, appealing to a wide range of listeners.

Chris Poulsen - Fender Rhodes;

Jeremy O'Connor - Acoustic and Electric Bass;

Trent Bryson-Dean - Drums.

Biography

In March 2004, drummer Trent Bryson-Dean sat in on a gig with a jazz band called Scat. He was very quickly impressed with the playing of Chris Poulsen (Fender Rhodes) that day and vowed to Chris and bassist Jeremy O’Connor that he would book a gig for the trio as soon as he possibly could. 

True to his word, Trent was able to secure a gig at the Brisbane Powerhouse five months later in August. (With great wisdom he chose to name the group Chris Poulsen Trio rather than name the group after himself – a mere drummer!) The gig proved to be a great success, was recorded by the band and a four track ep of the show was released for sale at gigs. “I don’t know if the guys believed me when I said that I would book us a gig, but nevertheless we were all very excited by the obvious chemistry and interplay that was going on! We knew that we had become a band and that we had started to play the music that was closest to each of our hearts.”

It just so happened that a gentleman from another venue was at the Powerhouse gig that night and in the coming weeks he contacted the trio about further gigs. Since then CP3 have been playing regularly at the Press club, Ric’s Bar and the Bowery. During this time the trio had written an album worth of original tunes which they recorded in February 2005 and released as their full-length debut entitled, ‘Tang!’ in mid-March.

Two years later, they returned to the studio and in April 2007 their latest album "Common Senses" was released.  With youthful exploration, innocence and imagination, the album is about experiencing life through vibrant sensory perception. It combines visual art with music, and the booklet insert includes photographs of original oil paintings by Chris Poulsen corresponding to each individual tune on the album, an wholistic approach to art and expression.  Still very active, the trio continues to gain a large following.

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