Tin Hat Trio

Transplanted from New York to the Bay Area, the chamber jazz group Tin Hat Trio consists of accordionist <a href="spotify:artist:7106JMHJxV5jS84aegmR8N">Rob Burger</a>, guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:1Z8O4oak7dssF0X1ybKE2A">Mark Orton</a>, and violinist <a href="spotify:artist:3YCyK8NZhGV3lFNX12DfA9">Carla Kihlstedt</a>. The group's unique blend of structure, improvisation, and contemporary classical, folk, world, and jazz elements reflects each member's other performing experiences. <a href="spotify:artist:3YCyK8NZhGV3lFNX12DfA9">Kihlstedt</a> majored in classical violin performance at the Oberlin Conservatory and went on to become a prominent performer in both classical and improvised music, playing with artists like <a href="spotify:artist:3gkJ7lXtLpE4KauFHpk2vK">John Zorn</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6DR6ugRdVaVi7lyqooqJov">Roscoe Mitchell</a>, and recording with <a href="spotify:artist:3VWsCRWk23WloHRP9ilRsw">Eugene Chadbourne</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:40c3m7NOCfD9zb9tJmi00e">the Grassy Knoll</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7x83XhcMbOTl1UdYsPTuZM">Tom Waits</a>. She also appeared on <a href="spotify:artist:69lxxQvsfAIoQbB20bEPFC">Philip Glass</a>' series Music at the Anthology, sings and plays with another Bay Area band (<a href="spotify:artist:1eKim692ztgvR9aSzKiQIT">Charming Hostess</a>), collaborates with choreographer Jo Kreiter, and is a graphic designer/illustrator as well.

<a href="spotify:artist:1Z8O4oak7dssF0X1ybKE2A">Orton</a> started playing guitar as a child and eventually studied composition at the Peabody Conservatory and the Hart School of Music. Also a professional recording and sound engineer, <a href="spotify:artist:1Z8O4oak7dssF0X1ybKE2A">Orton</a> worked on sessions with <a href="spotify:artist:3SONlwqLIP2GtaMh9pLYe5">Bill Frisell</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3gkJ7lXtLpE4KauFHpk2vK">John Zorn</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4q1q53aTfhk0k63Ob9zdhH">the Lounge Lizards</a>, and engineered the sound at the Knitting Factory for two years. <a href="spotify:artist:1Z8O4oak7dssF0X1ybKE2A">Orton</a> plays banjo, lute, dobro, lap steel, and electric guitar with his other group, San Francisco's <a href="spotify:artist:2BTNsfWLbizqYjeJ90H8vS">Old Joe Clarks</a>, and has composed scores for independent films like Beverly Wachtel's Just Noticeable Difference.

<a href="spotify:artist:7106JMHJxV5jS84aegmR8N">Burger</a> studied classical piano at Juilliard and explored different improvisational styles at the University of Massachusetts with <a href="spotify:artist:6jrlNnS5B830kpi40j3S6g">Max Roach</a>, Archie Stepp, and <a href="spotify:artist:33XkS6h90eeK7e6OJHw0mq">Yusef Lateef</a>. He broadened his range to include Hammond organ and vintage keyboards like the Optigan and Chamberlin, toy pianos and keyboards, and the accordion. <a href="spotify:artist:7106JMHJxV5jS84aegmR8N">Burger</a> has toured with <a href="spotify:artist:3SONlwqLIP2GtaMh9pLYe5">Bill Frisell</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2xJ2HMpwwLY36bkjT6sJkD">Don Byron</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0sQXx1Ji0yvldYg6cuEAOW">Joey Baron</a>, and appeared on <a href="spotify:artist:3SONlwqLIP2GtaMh9pLYe5">Frisell</a>'s Tales from the Far Side soundtrack. Since moving to the Bay Area, <a href="spotify:artist:7106JMHJxV5jS84aegmR8N">Burger</a> has worked with artists as diverse as <a href="spotify:artist:05r8qVIoFPCtYPchJqt3gW">Tipsy</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4BeDVC50BVhB0bjQqjbhmt">Mix Master Mike</a>; he is also a member of the Oranj Symphonette, as well as his bandmate <a href="spotify:artist:1Z8O4oak7dssF0X1ybKE2A">Orton</a>'s other project, <a href="spotify:artist:2BTNsfWLbizqYjeJ90H8vS">Old Joe Clarks</a>. As the Tin Hat Trio, they released their debut album, Memory Is an Elephant, on Angel Records in early 1999; Helium followed in spring 2000, boasting appearances from <a href="spotify:artist:7x83XhcMbOTl1UdYsPTuZM">Tom Waits</a> and an uncredited <a href="spotify:artist:34Ai24gPz5YJ8NbksiNFef">Mike Patton</a>. Two years later, the ambitious The Rodeo Eroded showcased their own unique music as well as guest appearances from <a href="spotify:artist:5wbIWUzTPuTxTyG6ouQKqz">Phish</a> drummer Jon Fishman and <a href="spotify:artist:5W5bDNCqJ1jbCgTxDD0Cb3">Willie Nelson</a>. 2004's Book of Silk went in a more abstract direction; that year, <a href="spotify:artist:7106JMHJxV5jS84aegmR8N">Burger</a> left the band, while frequent collaborators <a href="spotify:artist:5NUs3k61hE8xSB7EbQ3ohE">Ara Anderson</a> and clarinetist <a href="spotify:artist:2MwQNvRA6Se1bTRnMfESex">Ben Goldberg</a> joined the fold. Reflecting their new status, the group rechristened themselves Tin Hat for 2007's The Sad Machinery of Spring. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi