Tertium Quid

Bio:

tertium quid |ˈtər sh ēəm ˈkwid; ˈtərtēəm| noun
a third thing that is indefinite and undefined but is related to two definite or known things.


Initially formed for a one off live performance in Seattle in 2007, Tertium Quid is an improv collaboration between Daniel Burke (electronics & guitar), Bill Horist (guitar & devices) and Dave Abramson (drums/percussion/radio). In Early 2008 they reconvened at Gravelvoice studios Seattle to record for two days with engineer Scott Colburn. Their intention is to explore the boundaries of music, improvisation, and ambience. Their self-titled first vinyl/CD release will appear in fall 2009 on Chicago's New Ruins label, preceding a European tour.

The term Tertium Quid originally surfaced in early Christian debates on the nature of Christ; He was neither human nor divine, but some third thing. Later it was applied to the hothouse flower of American politics, the elusive third party. But listening to Tertium Quid, I think of another entity now passed, the Territory Band. In the jazz age, these ensembles staked claim to a given region and serviced every dance floor within its confines. Limited geographically, they had to be musically flexible in order to move every sole/soul that showed up on Saturday night. Whatever you want to call this age, Tertium Quid epitomizes the new sort of openness musicians need in order to survive in it. Geography and frequency don’t mean much anymore; Bill Horist and Dave Abramson live in Seattle, Daniel Burke near Chicago, and they’ve played just two gigs since the trio’s inception in 2007. And while they don’t necessarily have to play whatever the general audience wants, they have to be even more versatile to justify themselves in an age when any music on earth is just a computer search away by playing something that hasn’t existed before. Tertium Quid come from diverse backgrounds, but they’re united in their commitment to the genuine experimentation necessary to make such music. As Illusion of Safety and in various collaborations, Burke has melded industrial, electro-acoustic improvisation, and ambient music. Horist, who first met Burke in 2001 when they played together in the subterranean confines of Chicago’s now-defunct Nervous Center, is an inveterate improviser/composer whose confederates have included Chris Cutler, Eyvind Kang, and KK Null. Abramson has played with Horist for years in the Master Musicians of Bukkake; he’s also worked with Wally Shoup, Climax Golden Twins, and Secret Chiefs 3. After their second gig they repaired to Gravelvoice studio for two days of improvisation that’s as intuitive, combustible, and otherly as that of certain other celebrated trios — AMM, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Fenn O’Berg — without sounding much like them.  The place where style and sound blurs into new music — that’s Tertium Quid’s territory. --------- Bill Meyer.


///While, in the last several years, the guitar is considered “more in terms of its limitations than its capabilities, BILL HORIST [explores] the guitar’s continued presence as a vital and still challenging form of musical ..Willamette Week-May, 1998). Since moving to Seattle in 1995, BILL HORIST has established himself as a noted improviser/composer/performer along the West Coast and beyond. In the past decade, he has appeared on over 40 recordings and has performed almost 700 concerts in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan and throughout the US. Bill has performed and/or recorded with John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, KK Null, Matt Chamberlain, Trey Gunn(King Crimson), Chris Cutler, Kawabata Makoto(Acid Mothers Temple), William Hooker, Secret Chiefs 3, Eugene Chadbourne, Tatsuya Yoshida(Ruins), Shazaad Ismaily, Climax Golden Twins, Haco, Illusion of Safety, Saadet Tuerkoez, Planktonman(Nortec Collective), Jack Wright, Amy Denio, Uchihashi Kazuhisa, Steve Fisk, Reggie Watts(Maktub), Anla Courtis (Reynols), Luigi Archetti, Michael White, Christoph Gallio, Eyvind Kang, Paul Rucker, Lesli Dalaba, Paul Hoskin, Thomas Dimuzio, Wally Shoup, Jessica Lurie, Mason Jones, Jeff Grienke, and Tucker Martine as well as members of Pearl Jam, Earth, The Boredoms and Larsen among others. Horist has toured and recorded with a number of his own bands including Nobodaddy, Phineas Gage, Axolotl, UnFolkUs, Zahir, Tablet and Nervewheel. He currently performs with Master Musicians of Bukkake, Ghidra and the Paul Rucker Ensemble in addition to several periodic collaborations. As a solo artist, Bill’s improvised, prepared guitar work is informed by Hans Reichel, Fred Frith, and Henry Kaiser, but shows a unique style and personality. He has received critical praise internationally from periodicals including The Wire and Alternative Press, and several of his recordings have made critics’ year-end lists. His work has appeared on a vast array of labels including Mimicry, Public Eyesore, Songlines, Beta-Lactam Ring, Accretions and Unit Circle among others. Bill was featured in the March 2007 issues of Guitar Player Magazine and Earshot Jazz Magazine. In 2005 and 2006, he was nominated for "Jazz Artist of the Year" and "Guitarist of the Year" respectively by the Seattle Weekly. He has appeared at numerous festivals including Taktlos(Zuerich), Spring Reverb(San Diego/Tijuana), Big Sur Experimental Music Fest(Big Sur),Yamaguchi University Festival(Yamaguchi) Mission Creek Music Fest(San Francisco), Seattle Improvised Music Fest, AntiMatter Fest(Vancouver) and Olympia Experimental Music Fest. He was the recipient of the 2006 GAP grant, 2005 Artist Trust Fellowship, the 1997 Jack Straw Artist Assistance Program Grant and has done several presentations and workshops at schools from first grade to college-level, including the University of Calgary, Seattle Art Institute, Martin Luther King Elementary (Seattle), the Experience Music Project and Big Picture School for at-risk youth.

///Dave Abramson is a percussionist/drummer. He is currently involved with Diminished Men, Master Musicians of Bukkake, and saxophonist Wally Shoup. Recently, Abramson has collaborated with Secret Chiefs 3, Eyvind Kang, Kayo Dot, The Boredoms and Climax Golden Twins, as well as composing for the Maureen Whiting Dance Company.

///Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1960, Daniel Burke is a sound artist, photographer, painter, and graphic designer. After seeing - and being inspired by - the final 2 performances of Throbbing Gristle in 1981, Burke began exploring the use of sound. His playing and compositions have also been influenced by pop, rock, minimalism, classical avant garde, and Improvisation. In 1983 he started a project now known as Illusion Of Safety. In addition to his solo and group work as Illusion Of Safety, Burke has collaborated on live performances and recordings with Onde, Al Margolis, Jon Mueller, Randy Greif, Darrin Gray, John Duncan, Thymme Jones (Cheer-Accident), Jim O'Rourke, Thomas Dimuzio, Kevin Drumm, Big City Orchestra, Jeb Bishop, Ben Vida (Town and Country), Crash Worship, Eric Lunde (Boy Dirt Car), Jeff Jerman (Hands To), Claude Wiley (Exterior Mirror), Eric Leonardson, and Steve Barsotti. Since that time he has released 21 CD's as well numerous vinyl and cassettes releases as Illusion Of Safety. Burke has performed live in North America and Europe in over 250 concerts as Illusion Of Safety both as a solo performer and in collaboration. Burke has continued to develop his musical skill both as an improviser and in composition. He is currently playing guitar, laptop and devices in numerous live projects including: Tertium Quid, with Dave Abramson (drums) and Bill Horist (guitar & devices), and as yet untitled projects with Jon Mueller (drums), with Steve Burkholder (drums), and with Chris Block (bass). In addition work has begun on both composition and live performance with the rock band Cheer-Accident. Collaboration projects have also been initiated with Zev, and Jeremy Bible & Jason Henry. ..

Member Since:

August 06, 2008

Members:

Bill Horist: Guitar & devices // Daniel Burke: Guitar, Laptop & processing // Dave Abramson: Drums/percussion/radio/objects

Frisbee Freestyle: Relentless Freestyle 4.0, a video montage from Amsterjam 2005 by Daniel Burke. Soundtrack: "within pocket reach of mirth", from the forthcoming premier release by TERTIUM QUID on New Ruins.

Influences:

Fred Frith, Robert Fripp, Hans Reichel, Massacre, dome, Henry Kaiser, AMM, MEV, TG, Minimalism,

Sounds Like:

music, chaos, order, improv, environment,

Record Label:

New Ruins???