Biography
Originally hailing from New York before relocating to the Bay Area, the chamber jazz ensemble Tin Hat Trio features accordionist Rob Burger alongside guitarist Mark Orton and violinist Carla Kihlstedt. Their distinctive fusion of composed forms, spontaneous improvisation, and threads drawn from contemporary classical, folk, world, and jazz traditions mirrors the varied performance histories each member brings to the collective.
Kihlstedt completed a classical violin degree at the Oberlin Conservatory, after which she established herself as a notable figure across both composed and freely improvised settings through collaborations with John Zorn and Roscoe Mitchell as well as recordings alongside Eugene Chadbourne, the Grassy Knoll, and Tom Waits. Additional credits include appearances in Philip Glass’ Music at the Anthology series; she also contributes vocals and instrumentation to the Bay Area ensemble Charming Hostess, partners with choreographer Jo Kreiter, and maintains a parallel practice as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Orton began on guitar during childhood before pursuing composition studies at the Peabody Conservatory and the Hart School of Music. As a working recording and sound engineer he contributed to sessions involving Bill Frisell, John Zorn, and the Lounge Lizards while handling front-of-house duties at the Knitting Factory for two years. Within San Francisco’s Old Joe Clarks he performs on banjo, lute, dobro, lap steel, and electric guitar, and he has written original scores for independent films including Beverly Wachtel’s Just Noticeable Difference.
Burger trained in classical piano at Juilliard and later examined diverse improvisational approaches at the University of Massachusetts with Max Roach, Archie Stepp, and Yusef Lateef. Expanding his instrumental palette to encompass Hammond organ, vintage keyboards such as the Optigan and Chamberlin, toy pianos and keyboards, and the accordion, he toured with Bill Frisell, Don Byron, and Joey Baron and appeared on Frisell’s Tales from the Far Side soundtrack. After settling in the Bay Area he worked with artists ranging from Tipsy to Mix Master Mike; he also belongs to the Oranj Symphonette and shares membership in Old Joe Clarks with Orton.
Under the Tin Hat Trio name the group issued its debut album, Memory Is an Elephant, on Angel Records in early 1999. Helium arrived in spring 2000 and featured contributions from Tom Waits plus an uncredited Mike Patton. Two years afterward the expansive The Rodeo Eroded presented original material alongside guest spots by Phish drummer Jon Fishman and Willie Nelson. The more abstract 2004 release Book of Silk coincided with Burger’s departure and the addition of frequent associates Ara Anderson and clarinetist Ben Goldberg; to mark the new configuration the ensemble adopted the shortened name Tin Hat for 2007’s The Sad Machinery of Spring.
Kihlstedt completed a classical violin degree at the Oberlin Conservatory, after which she established herself as a notable figure across both composed and freely improvised settings through collaborations with John Zorn and Roscoe Mitchell as well as recordings alongside Eugene Chadbourne, the Grassy Knoll, and Tom Waits. Additional credits include appearances in Philip Glass’ Music at the Anthology series; she also contributes vocals and instrumentation to the Bay Area ensemble Charming Hostess, partners with choreographer Jo Kreiter, and maintains a parallel practice as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Orton began on guitar during childhood before pursuing composition studies at the Peabody Conservatory and the Hart School of Music. As a working recording and sound engineer he contributed to sessions involving Bill Frisell, John Zorn, and the Lounge Lizards while handling front-of-house duties at the Knitting Factory for two years. Within San Francisco’s Old Joe Clarks he performs on banjo, lute, dobro, lap steel, and electric guitar, and he has written original scores for independent films including Beverly Wachtel’s Just Noticeable Difference.
Burger trained in classical piano at Juilliard and later examined diverse improvisational approaches at the University of Massachusetts with Max Roach, Archie Stepp, and Yusef Lateef. Expanding his instrumental palette to encompass Hammond organ, vintage keyboards such as the Optigan and Chamberlin, toy pianos and keyboards, and the accordion, he toured with Bill Frisell, Don Byron, and Joey Baron and appeared on Frisell’s Tales from the Far Side soundtrack. After settling in the Bay Area he worked with artists ranging from Tipsy to Mix Master Mike; he also belongs to the Oranj Symphonette and shares membership in Old Joe Clarks with Orton.
Under the Tin Hat Trio name the group issued its debut album, Memory Is an Elephant, on Angel Records in early 1999. Helium arrived in spring 2000 and featured contributions from Tom Waits plus an uncredited Mike Patton. Two years afterward the expansive The Rodeo Eroded presented original material alongside guest spots by Phish drummer Jon Fishman and Willie Nelson. The more abstract 2004 release Book of Silk coincided with Burger’s departure and the addition of frequent associates Ara Anderson and clarinetist Ben Goldberg; to mark the new configuration the ensemble adopted the shortened name Tin Hat for 2007’s The Sad Machinery of Spring.
Albums
