Stirrup, the Chicago based Collaborative trio, continues to explore the interstitial space on this, their third commercial release.

Cellist (and in “Cut” also a guitar player) Fred Lonberg-Holm is one of the top references of the Chicago creative music scene, covering genres going from jazz to rock, to pop, to free improvisation and to experimental music. Stirrup is his new band and reflects Lonberg-Holm’s eclecticism in a particular way. After all, he met double bassist Nick Macri and drummer Charles Rumback in the psychedelic folk band, Horse’s Ha. The idea is to do in trio what they couldn’t in that context: to explore deep grooves, moody harmonies and extended structures. The accomplice of Ken Vandermark and Joe McPhee in several projects found in this rhythm section similar-oriented souls. Macri’s previous collaborations include Laetitia Sadier, from Stereolab, and the keyboardist / composer Hector Zazou as well as involvement with the indie pop-rock groups Heroic Doses and The Zincs. Rumback played with the chamber rock combo L’Altra and the singer Via Tania and other of his current dedications is the experimental psych band Leaf Bird. Curiously enough, he is the one here closest to the jazz tradition, and you notice that. With all this mixed and you have refreshing music, always with an element of surprise, combining pastoral melodies with heavy beats and noisy harmonics. Give it a try…

Tracks 1, 3, 6 and 9 by Nick Macri (Al’s Candid Music ASCAP), 4, 5 and 8 by Charles Rumback (In the new Year ASCAP), 2, 7 and 10 by Fred Lonberg-Holm (BMI).

Recorded at Rattlesnake Studios by Caleb Willitz. | Mixed by Fred Lonberg-Holm and Stirrup. | Mastered by Brian Labycz
Produced by Stirrup | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos