Kellen Mills: TRYON

Performers include:
Jonathon Haffner, alto sax
Nick Saia, guitar
Dafna Naphtali, electronics
Marta Sanchez, piano
Kellen Mills, bass
James Nadien, drums

$20 Suggested Donation

TRYON is conceived as a living ensemble—one that brings together New York–based performers and improvisers to realize new and unreleased works composed in Berlin, Germany. At its core, the project seeks to create a dialogue between European experimental composition practices and the deep improvisational traditions of New York, with free improvisation serving as a foundational and unifying element.

It is a large ensemble based on the written compositions of Kellen Mills. It combines complex written form as well as free improvisation and classical avant-garde. The project began , Feburary 2020 and is based in Berlin,DE.

TRYON have released two albums on Double Moon Records. “Läuterung” which was released with a 13 piece ensemble in 2022 comprised of: Ganna Gryniva, Erik Leuthäuser, Omri Abramov, Toms Rudzinskis; and in 2023 “Freaky Squash Baby” which was released as an 18 piece group featuring: Kiki Manders, Mirna Bogdanovic, Erik Leuthäuser, Oli Steidle, Taiko Saito, Rieko Okuda, Philipp Gropper, Jasper Stadhouders, and many more.

The group has performed as both large and small ensemble versions in: Jazzexzess, Jazzam Kaistersteg, VIllingen Jazzclub, Freakshow Artrock Festival, Ponava Jazz Festival, Improdimensija Concert Series, Nordhausen Jazzclub, M//Darbnica, Kaunas Jazz Academy, Donau115, Bflat, Jazzclub Schlot, Terminus Saarbrucken, Saxstall, Kultūras nams Wiktorija, LOFT, and many more.

“Jazz rock and rock sounds and rhythms can at one point morph into jazz avant-garde or emotional and even tender statements. At other moments, the musicians play intellectually and sonically demanding or meet at a certain point on the level of the classic jazz form. There are no rules here. There is a wonderful, seemingly spontaneous game. You just have to listen to this album.” (Jazzfun.de)