Bonobos Convergence

Artist Information

Biography

Think about the organ / guitar / drums of a traditional organ trio. Now imagine that the guitarist can take over the bass part at will giving the organist freedom to improvise. Then add intricately crafted tunes with 2 and 3 part vocal harmonies. Finally, imagine a collection of musicians with the chops enough to pull off everything from Ozzy to Zappa to Miles and back again.

At home in the biggest of Jam Band festivals but versitile enough to do everything from a night of funk to a night of standards. A staple at every Wanee festival since 2006.

Bonobos Convergence also comes with a pedigree, as Pete is a Berklee graduate and Frank a veteran of UCF's jazz program, while Vaylor comes from one of the best known musical families in Jam Bands today.

Instrumentation

Pete Orenstein: Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, and Vocals
Frank Registrato: Drums, Percussion, and Vocals
Vaylor Trucks: Guitar, MIDI Guitar, Bass, Chapman Stick, and Vocals

Discography

2006: "Who's Chuck Fimp?" - debut CD (10 tracks, 74 minutes)
2007: JamCam DVD - Wanee 2007 (featured on Comcast OnDemand music showcase for January 2008)

Official Website

http://www.bonobosmusic.com

Audio

• Whimsical Fantasy
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• Flag for Utopia
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• Today (live at Wanee 2006)
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Lyrics

• Today
• Whimsical Fantasy
• Edge City
• MASH
• Or
• Namaste
• Home On Derange
• Freakin' Ordinary
• Bakin'
• Roof Beneath

Video

Netsirk - from Wanee 2007

Photo Gallery

Press

• One of the best albums of 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  Who's Chuck Fimp? is one of those rare CDs that delivers both on monster chops and popular appeal. A...Who's Chuck Fimp? is one of those rare CDs that delivers both on monster chops and popular appeal. As a general rule, I don’t often get the opportunity to listen to music that I think should be registering on the pop charts. But this is one of the happy exceptions. The album is full of jazz-fusion, blues, jam band energy, engaging lyrics and absorbing hooks. Some tunes on this album should be receiving widespread radio airplay.
  
  If anything, since we don’t hear it all that often in modern music, the trio’s dominant sound is the organ. Because of this, at times BC is very much a modern jam band version of early Grand Funk. Orenstein’s singing even sounds like a “cooler version of Mark Farner.” If that wasn’t weird enough, Registrato’s vocals sound like Yes’ Jon Anderson, without the reverb! In fact, you would have been hard-pressed to convince me that he is not Jon Anderson on the opening “Whimsical Fantasy.”
  
  The third member of the band, Vaylor Trucks, does no lead vocalizing, but he kills on guitar. Whether playing a laidback acoustic or burning like an electric mother a la Tommy Bolin, Trucks is a driving force throughout.
  
  Who's Chuck Fimp?, one of the best albums of 2006, is evidence of what can be accomplished by terrific, imaginative musicians utilizing the tools of their influences. In the end, this is a unique sound presented in a creative and fun way. I consider myself to be one “chucky limp” to have heard this album.
  

• First Rate Jam Band! [+ Show ]
  

  For those into jambands, this is a real treat. Pete Orenstein and Frank Registrato (of KYNDA) join ...For those into jambands, this is a real treat. Pete Orenstein and Frank Registrato (of KYNDA) join Vaylor Trucks in some melodious and mind bending grooves. Very enjoyable and a joy to listen to again and again. Sem 'em live if you get a chance!

• Bonobos Convergence - Who Is Chuck Fimp? [+ Show ]
  

  Anybody who has seen Vaylor Trucks play with the Allman Brothers, or his previous band Yeti, knows t...Anybody who has seen Vaylor Trucks play with the Allman Brothers, or his previous band Yeti, knows that the Trucks musical gene didn’t skip him. However, Bonobos Convergence is the most fertile musical environment he has ever enjoyed, and his playing on this cd is remarkably fluid, imaginative and melodic. ...
  
  Berklee-trained keyboardist Pete Ornstein and drummer Frank Registrato, a veteran of UCF’s jazz program, contribute equally to this remarkably full-sounding trio. ...
  
  Bonobos [is] one of the most exciting new bands on the scene. Rock power, jazz improv and classical compositional structure all combine to make a glorious noise ...
  
  Besides contributing many of the songs, Ornstein’s pumping B-3 sound is a cornerstone of the band. His classical chops allow the band to pull off intricate maneuvers that recall prog-rockers like Yes and ELP. ...
  
  In a world of copycat jambands, Bonobos Convergence takes a different approach, and they are a band to watch.
  

• Wanee (2007) [+ Show ]
  

  Saturday got off to a very strong start, with possibly the best 1-2 combo I’ve ever seen at a festiv...Saturday got off to a very strong start, with possibly the best 1-2 combo I’ve ever seen at a festival before 2 PM. Bonobos Convergence, fresh off their well-received set the night before, announced their arrival with a bizarre combination of “Crazy Train” and The Price Is Right theme before getting down to business. Their music is similar to great prog-rock bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and besides the multi-talented Trucks on guitar and bass, keyboardist Pete Orenstein and drummer Frank Registrato are also top-tier musicians with enviable chops. Trucks’ guitar solo on “Flag for Utopia” was nothing less than thrilling, and the title of the song was appropriate, seeing as Wanee seemed like a little weekend utopia all its own. The most impressive part of their set was an intricate arrangement of Raymond Scott’s “Powerhouse,” a high-octane, up-tempo jazz number that most of you have heard used in classic cartoons.

• WAKARUSA: Getting In Deep [+ Show ]
  

  Bonobos Convergence played a fiery and precise set of their prog-flavored rock at the Homegrown Stag...Bonobos Convergence played a fiery and precise set of their prog-flavored rock at the Homegrown Stage. Vaylor Trucks proved that Derek isn’t the only guitar-playing Trucks worth listening to, mixing fluid lines with Robert Fripp-esque avant-shredding. Keyboardist Pete Ornstein kept the B-3 pulse strong at even the strangest moments, and drummer Frank Registrato plays with a swing and gusto straight out of a jazz big band. When they locked together during the complex progressions and tight transitions that are the hallmark of their music, the collective effect was stunning. As the set ended, one dreadlocked young gentleman exclaimed “That was the best set I’ve seen all weekend!” Heady praise, bro.

• Gophertunes Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  Bonobos Convergence makes some of the weirdest, coolest, rock/funk/jazz improv music I've heard in ...Bonobos Convergence makes some of the
  weirdest, coolest, rock/funk/jazz improv music I've heard in a while. One
  song sounds like Frank Zappa singing lyrics from "Alice in Wonderland," and
  I mean that in the best way possible.

• Events: 08-28-06 [+ Show ]
  

  Combining the best elements of Rock/Prog/Jam/Soul/Funk and just about everything else, they truly a...Combining the best elements of
  Rock/Prog/Jam/Soul/Funk and just about everything else, they truly are a musical tour-de-force. ...
  
  You might recognize Vaylor from his work with Yeti Trio, or from his performances on stage with the Allman Brothers (yes, Butch Trucks is his Dad, and Derek Trucks is his cousin, but to be fair, not only does he hold his own talent-wise with those mighty powerhouses, but lately has been getting reviews as "the Trucks to watch out for"....). Pete and Frank are also fantastic musicians with a long laundry list of projects and venues all over the country, and I've got to tell you... These guys are simply impressive. Great talent, Great show, and they are really building a growing scene around their music and band.

• YouTube Review [+ Show ]
  

  You guys are like a jam Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. You got some Umphree's McGee speed lead, maybe fa...You guys are like a jam Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. You got some Umphree's McGee speed lead, maybe faster and jazzier. Would look way bad ass in the dark. Don't need a frontman when you have that musical skill.

• Bonobos Convergence [+ Show ]
  

  Though grounded in masterful improvisation, this 3 piece imbibes a sense of groove that keeps their ...Though grounded in masterful improvisation, this 3 piece imbibes a sense of groove that keeps their many fans dancing through the entire show. Pete Orenstein (Organ, keys and vocals), on his trade mark bouncy ball, creates a sense of excitement that the crowd feeds on, while Frank Registrato (Drums and vocals) lays down a funky beat that never lets up. Vaylor Trucks (Guitar, bass, Chapman Stick and vocals) constantly keeps the crowd guessing about which instrument he will masterfully play next, weaving thoughtful solos that stick with you. Their songs are amazingly catchy with choruses that people sing in the shower the next day.
  
  - Toni Brown former publisher Relix Magazine

Setlist

There is much evolution and much improvisation in the music of Bonobos Convergence. As such, these set lists are provided as examples, and may or may not reflect any actual performance.

Set list as opening act (45-min to 1 hour):

Whimsical Fantasy (Registrato)
Flag for Utopia (Trucks)
Former Future -> Today (Orenstein)
Band intros
Ordinary (Orenstein)

For a full evening of music (10pm - 2am) typically the music will be broken into two 2-hour sets featuring a majority of original music. Selected covers include:

Powerhouse - Raymond Scott
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
It Stoned Me - Van Morrison
Get Up, Sand Up - Bob Marley
Oh No! - Frank Zappa

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Bonobos Convergence Stage Plot and Input List

Calendar