TriBeCaStan at the Rubin Museum

New York ethno-fusion collective TriBeCaStan performs a unique and eclectic hybrid of folk, jazz and world music inspired by New York City’s cross-pollinating musical and cultural communities. Led by multi-instrumentalists John Kruth, Jeff Greene and Matt Darriau, the ensemble uses acoustic instruments from all over the world and yet simultaneously draws structure from American jazz, blues, folk and rock. TriBeCaStan’s fourth album, New Songs from the Old Country, becomes available on October 1.

TriBeCaStan’s performance tonight at the Rubin Museum was unique in that it was designed to explore the connections between the band’s music and the Rubin Museum’s collection of Himalayan art. Each composition was inspired by a piece of art displayed in the museum, and a photograph of that piece was projected behind the band as the music played. (Oddly, in the photograph right, the band played danceable world rhythms to what seemed to be a Betty Boop-type black and white cartoon of skeletons dancing.) Tonight, TriBeCaStan’s rotating membership consisted of nine musicians performing on acoustic instruments with no microphones, effects, sound cables or amplifiers. Kruth directed the virtuosic bandmembers, allowing the musicians a few moments of improvisation within the pieces, but maintaining the focus of the compositions. Many of the instruments were familiar – stand-up bass, accordion, banjo, harmonica, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, sitar and table, for instance – but many were native to southeastern Asia and may never be seen again by the people in the audience. Most of the set was instrumental, but one lyrical composition sounded somewhat like the Beatles’ Indian raga-favored “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Radically multicultural and poly-stylistic to the marrow, the evening was refreshingly free from restraints and expectations.