Tuatara (band)
Encyclopedia
Tuatara is a Seattle-based instrumental music group featuring members of R.E.M.
, The Minus 5
, Critters Buggin
, and the Screaming Trees
.
(guitar), Barrett Martin
of the Screaming Trees (drums and percussion), Justin Harwood
of Luna
(bass guitar, double bass), and Skerik
of Critters Buggin (saxophones).
Originally a project to get musician friends some soundtrack work, the project evolved into an active band, doing occasional live shows, and recording their first album Breaking the Ethers, encompassing a sound influenced by various styles of music, from Lebanese
and Asian music to more traditional Western folk music
.
The band expanded in 1998, adding guitarist Scott McCaughey
on guitar, Steve Berlin
on saxophone and flute, Craig Flory on clarinets and saxophones, Mike Stone on drums, and Elizabeth Pupo-Walker on conga
s and other percussion. This expanded line-up released Trading With the Enemy, which added more exotic instrumentation while sticking to the familiar formula of borrowing from a variety of styles.
The band had eleven members at the time of 2001's Cinemathique, which was intended to fulfill the original desire of creating music for soundtracks. A remix album, The Loading Program, was released in 2003.
McCaughey and Buck are also permanent members of The Minus 5, and Martin has contributed to their performances and recordings as well.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, The Minus 5
The Minus 5
The Minus 5 is an American rock band, headed by musician Scott McCaughey and featuring R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.-Band history:Formed in 1993, McCaughey designed the Minus 5 as a pop collective, with each record the group put out featuring a new lineup...
, Critters Buggin
Critters Buggin
Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock and African-influenced, eclectic style. The band is composed of Matt Chamberlain , Skerik , Brad Houser Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock...
, and the Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
.
History
The band was formed in 1996 by R.E.M.'s Peter BuckPeter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
(guitar), Barrett Martin
Barrett Martin
Barrett Martin , is an American drummer, upright bassist, composer, producer, writer, and Zen artist. He was the drummer for the Seattle, Washington groups Skin Yard and Screaming Trees, as well as the supergroups Mad Season and Tuatara...
of the Screaming Trees (drums and percussion), Justin Harwood
Justin Harwood
Justin Harwood is a New Zealand-born bass guitarist, notable for his work with several indie rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, The Chills, Luna, and Tuatara...
of Luna
Luna (band)
Luna was a dream pop/indie pop band formed in 1991 by Dean Wareham after the breakup of Galaxie 500, with Stanley Demeski and Justin Harwood...
(bass guitar, double bass), and Skerik
Skerik
Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois and Skerik's Syncopated...
of Critters Buggin (saxophones).
Originally a project to get musician friends some soundtrack work, the project evolved into an active band, doing occasional live shows, and recording their first album Breaking the Ethers, encompassing a sound influenced by various styles of music, from Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Asian music to more traditional Western folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
The band expanded in 1998, adding guitarist Scott McCaughey
Scott McCaughey
As a singer and songwriter, Scott McCaughey is the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5.He is also bassist for Robyn Hitchcock's most recent touring band, The Venus 3, along with Bill Rieflin and Peter Buck....
on guitar, Steve Berlin
Steve Berlin
Steve Berlin is an American saxophonist, keyboardist and record producer, best known as a member of the rock group Los Lobos and, before that, Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs, The Blasters, and The Flesh Eaters...
on saxophone and flute, Craig Flory on clarinets and saxophones, Mike Stone on drums, and Elizabeth Pupo-Walker on conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s and other percussion. This expanded line-up released Trading With the Enemy, which added more exotic instrumentation while sticking to the familiar formula of borrowing from a variety of styles.
The band had eleven members at the time of 2001's Cinemathique, which was intended to fulfill the original desire of creating music for soundtracks. A remix album, The Loading Program, was released in 2003.
McCaughey and Buck are also permanent members of The Minus 5, and Martin has contributed to their performances and recordings as well.
Discography
- Breaking the EthersBreaking the EthersBreaking the Ethers is the debut album from collaborative group Tuatara. Released on Epic Records, it was an attempt by members of Luna, the Screaming Trees and R.E.M...
(CD) - Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
- April 1997 - Trading with the EnemyTrading with the EnemyTrading with the Enemy is the second album by collaborative band Tuatara. For this album, the original foursome added a number of new members to play more instruments designed to expand their sound.-Track listing:...
(CD) - Epic Records - June 1998 - CinemathiqueCinemathiqueCinemathique is the third album by collaborative band Tuatara. The band expanded to eleven members on this album, and it was their first album for Barrett Martin's record label, Fast Horse Recordings.-Track listing:...
(CD) - Fast Horse Recordings - December 2001 - The Loading ProgramThe Loading ProgramThe Loading Program is the fourth release by collaborative group Tuatara. The release mainly consists of remixes of songs from their first three albums.-Track listing:#Morocco - 5:13...
(CD) - Fast Horse Recordings - September 2003 - East of the SunEast of the Sun (Tuatara album)East of the Sun is the fifth album from collaborative group Tuatara, and part of a double album release with West of the Moon. It is the first Tuatara album with lyrics, sung by a variety of guest vocalists.-Track listing:...
(CD) - Fast Horse Recordings - June 2007 - West of the MoonWest of the MoonWest of the Moon is the follow-up to Tuatara's East of the Sun.-Tuatara members:*Peter Buck - acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, dulcimer*Dave Carter - trumpet*Jessy Greene - violin, cello*Kevin Hudson - electric and upright bass...
(CD) - Fast Horse Recordings - October 2007 - The Here and the Gone with Coleman BarksColeman BarksColeman Barks is an American poet. Although he neither speaks nor reads Persian, he is nonetheless renowned as an interpreter of Rumi and other mystic poets of Persia.- Biographical notes:...
(CD) - Fast Horse Recordings - November 2008
External links
- Official site.
- Interview with UCLA's Daily Bruin.