Enneads

Enneads is a New York-based trio featuringpianist Phyllis Chen, drummer Hamir Atwal, andZach Layton on the rare 17-string electric bass.Named after the writings of the neoplatonicphilosopher Plotinus, the ensemble approachesimprovisation through the ancient idea, firstarticulated by Pythagoras, that harmony is’number made audible.’ The trio uses naturalstring harmonics as the foundation of it’s conceptof improvisation. Harmonic and inharmonicovertones, sympathetic vibrations, rhythmicproportions, and resonant room acoustics are allparameters of an emerging musical form exploredthrough Chen, Atwal, and Layton’s intuitiveapproach to spontaneous composition.Layton’s unique instrument, the 17-string electric bass, is played in a variety of tunings andfunctions almost like an amplified Greek Lyre (ormaybe a Baroque electric Theorbo), runningthrough heavy fuzz, distortion, and ringmodulation, while Chen explores the interior of anamplified grand piano