MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Trio from Mansfield have big hopes for their music. According to the three siblings, their desire is to make jazz cool again through their band’s unique sound.
They call their music electro jazz hop. If you listen to their music, you realize how accurate this description is. Their jazz has taken a new form, one that enfolds the technological times. Even their choice in instruments is eccentric.
Aaron Hill, the drummer, is particular on how he tunes his drums. He said he uses dark sounding cymbals to get that vintage jazzy tone. Then he tunes the drums low to get the characteristic hip hop sound.
His brother Andrew uses an electronic wind instrument (EWI) to get the band’s electronic sounds. He rigs the EWI up to software that allows him to play it as a keyboard sometimes. This allows him to incorporate a variety of different sounds, including bass lines. He also uses a loop pedal so he can layer certain sounds on top of each other during the same song.
Ariane, the sister, plays the flute. Sometimes she switches over to the accordion though. No biggie.
Using technology and raw music talent and ability, The Trio is able to capture a sound that they hope intrigues and inspires the listeners to feel the ineffable nature of jazz.
“I guess my ultimate goal is to make jazz cool again,” said Aaron Hill. His siblings chimed in.
“Jazz is such a wide genre. A lot of people hear that we play jazz and think ‘jazz, that’s what you play?’ and then they hear our stuff and don’t realize that it fits the genre,” added Ariane Hill.
In one way or another, each sibling has always had an interest in playing and listening to music. The three grew up in Mansfield with parents who listened to jazz. Ariane Hill has played flute for 12 years, Andrew Hill picked up the EWI three years ago.
For Andrew Hill, jazz is nostalgic. He remembers his parents listening to jazz artists like Take 6 and the Manhatten Transfer. The genre brings back memories.
Aaron Hill has been drumming since he was four. He also drums for three other local bands: Divebomb, The Infantry and OH70. For him, music is his life.
He started young; he said he always knew that jazz was the genre for him. “I can remember going to the library as a child and instead of checking out Disney movies or children’s books, I was getting jazz albums or instructional drum videos,” he said.
He also participates in his church’s worship band – all three of them do, rather.
The family attends Grace Evangelical Free Church in Mansfield. Aaron and Andrew Hill take turns on the drums. Andrew Hill also incorporates the EWI every once in a while.
Ariane Hill sings for the the church. But the siblings do not include lyrics or singing in The Trio. In fact, they admitted speaking during a performance at all is a challenge for them. They said they would rather let the music speak for itself.
“I usually end up doing the talking up on stage,” said Ariane Hill with a laugh. Her siblings chuckled and gave bashful nods.
The band has plans to record new songs in the near future with their 16 year-old brother, Alan Hill. He raps. The band expects the lyrics to be relatively positive; they come from a Christian background.
“Dad would shut the whole thing down if he (Alan) used a potty mouth,” pointed out Ariane Hill.
The band is still relatively young in its existence. The three siblings decided to start the band about year and a half ago when Aaron Hill was asked to play for downtown Mansfield’s Shop Hop at the Carrousel Antique store.
“We’ve evolved lots since then,” said Ariane Hill. The band plans to continue to develop their unique sound in the future. They hope to tour with it in the coming years.
The Trio plays every third Wednesday at Martini’s on Main in downtown Mansfield. For more details on show times and to hear their music, visit their Facebook page.
“I guess my ultimate goal is to make jazz cool again,” said Aaron Hill
