California trio brings international flavor

As the three acoustic guitarists and bongo player of the California Guitar Trio set up for their performance Friday night, the more than 100 audience members settled themselves in for a mellow evening. What followed was not the acoustic experience they expected. In a performance sponsored by Penn's Probasco Society, the California Guitar Trio rocked the rooftop lounge of Harnwell College House. World famous for their unlikely marriage of classical guitar and hard rock, the Trio made a stop on their tour for a private concert at Penn. Students, faculty and staff packed the living room-style venue, putting bare feet up on comfortable couches. Floor lamps provided the lighting for the "stage." The Trio, joined by Seattle percussionist Jarrett Kaplan, fit in well at Harnwell, which is known for its international scene. Bert Lams from Brussels, Hideyo Moriya from Tokyo and Paul Richards from Salt Lake City formed the group while studying under Robert Fripp in England. This eclectic group of musicians produces an even more varied musical style, drawing influence from jazz, bluegrass, classical, rock and, of course, "surf music." At times the guitars imitated the sound of bells, a harpsichord, pipes and even an ocarina. Kaplan, a bongo between his thighs and sleighbells strapped around each ankle, was at times playing more instruments than he had limbs. "I like the way they use classical guitars to play rock music," said Wharton junior Mohammed Motiwala, a resident advisor in Harnwell. In addition to their original pieces, the Trio covered hits ranging from Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" to 17th century Japanese music. In an arrangement of Beethoven's 9th symphony, the Trio described themselves as "the only three that would attempt to play this on the classical guitar, and maybe the only three that would get away with it." The Trio is known all over the world for its technically fantastic guitar playing. "I started loving the guitar since I heard [the Trio]," Wharton junior Olga Nekrasova said. In one display of technical prowess, the Trio performed a cover of King Crimson's "Discipline," in which each guitarist plays in a different time signature. The Probasco Society, whose members currently include only senior staff members, invited the Trio to perform as part of their effort to bring culture literally into students' homes. Since its formation in 1998, when Harnwell House Dean Leslie Delauter and Harnwell Faculty Master David Brownlee moved in, the society has been supporting student performers. "We want to give students an opportunity to perform in a setting that's a little more formal than in the corridor, but without the pressures of a recital hall," Brownlee said. "You're sort of playing with family." In addition to facilitating both professional and student performances, the society is currently sponsoring a professional quartet in residence, which is being "shadowed" by a student quartet. The Trio performed at the Tin Angel on Saturday night before continuing on their tour to New York City. Their original pieces have been featured as background music for NBC's coverage of the past three Olympics, and have been played as wake-up music for astronauts.