Trombonist Bryan Hooten released his first solo trombone album last week. He plays in the party-purposed No BS! Brass Band, leaves his mark with the animalistic and rowdy Fight the Big Bull, and leads his angular and diverse quartet Ombak. He’s known for his wild and focused compositions for all sized ensembles from a duo with drums to the bygone big band.

But the trio. For a superior musician like Hooten, the trio is a perfect marriage of freedom and responsibility, interplay and interdependence, and Top Knot Trio is just that. Wednesday at Balliceaux, Top Knot’s samurai strike.

photo by Melissa Christenson

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26
10pm, free, ages 21+

Balliceaux is located at 203 N. Lombardy St. in Richmond, VA.

About Top Knot Trio:
Top Knot Trio combines the forces of Bryan Hooten on trombone, Cameron Ralston on bass and Scott Clark on drums. Taking its name from the preferred hairstyle of the Samurai, Top Knot Trio wander the countryside as Ronin, masterless masters of musical combat. Performing original compositions and improvisations as well as music by Julius Hemphill, Top Knot live as a blues-based avant-power-trio that takes no prisoners.