Podcast 628: A Conversation with Kait Dunton

I'm a big fan of piano trios – the interplay between three rhythm instruments, the resulting melodies and dissonances, the way soloists weave within one another to create something greater than themselves. trioKAIT does all of that, and does it well - but this is a different kind of piano trio. The same has been said about the Bad Plus, E.S.T. and other groups that came before them, but the group made up of piano and keyboardist Kait Dunton, electric bassist Cooper Appelt, and drummer Jake Reed brings what has aptly been called "a modern, tight and groovy sound to the piano trio format." trioKAIT 2 is their latest CD, and first to bring electric instruments like the Fender Rhodes or the Wurlitzer to their sound. The cover photo has the group under a starry sky, and themes of space, distance, and the nature of sound are all a big part of the album's allure. Whether it's the funky vintage sound of "O.C.D." or a spacey take on the classic "Pure Imagination", the trio's musical approach continues to grow and evolve. Podcast 628 is my conversation with Kait Dunton, who before her solo and group career began in earnest, was a member of Snarky Puppy as the band was cutting their teeth. You can hear her on thier second CD, The World is Getting Smaller. We talk about the evolution of the trioKAIT sound, how the new – to her – instruments allow her to take different approaches to writing and recording, and how the group's fans are reacting to their musical growth.  Musical selections from trioKAIT 2 include "O.C.D.", "In Our Space" and "Pure Imagination."