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...
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 this time 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. The instrumental group has also performed at the Queensland Music Festival, Valley Jazz festival, the Australian Gospel Music festival, and Parachute Festival in New Zealand, and are excited about the future ? whatever it may hold!
With an energetic stage presence and an intriguing approach to composition, it's not hard to see why the Chris Poulsen Trio has gained such a large following. The group combines funk, fusion, latin and bebop influences, resulting in an artistic and original sound. Though only an instrumental three piece, their music is full of dynamic colour and texture, engaging audiences of a wide variety.