Unaltered live improvisations mixed by D.B.
From recordings at Gravelvoice Studio Seattle
Realized on February 1st & 2nd of 2008
Recording engineer and host was Scott Colburn
Mastering by Thomas Dimuzio @ Gench, San Francisco
Percussion, radio & objects: Dave Abramson
Guitars and devices: Bill Horist
Guitar, laptop, and processing: Daniel Burke
Cover: Impossible Reef #5 by D.B.
© & p 2008 Finite Material Context (BMI)
& Tangenesis Artifactory Music (ASCAP)

The term Tertium Quid originally surfaced in early Christian debates on the nature of Christ; He was neither human nor divine, but some third thing. Later it was applied to the hothouse flower of American politics, the elusive third party. But listening to Tertium Quid, I think of another entity now passed, the Territory Band. In the jazz age, these ensembles staked claim to a given region and serviced every dance floor within its confines. Limited geographically, they had to be musically flexible in order to move every sole/soul that showed up on Saturday night. Whatever you want to call this age, Tertium Quid epitomizes the new sort of openness musicians need in order to survive in it. Geography and frequency don’t mean much anymore; Bill Horist and Dave Abramson live in Seattle, Daniel Burke near Chicago, and they’ve played just two gigs since the trio’s inception in 2007. And while they don’t necessarily have to play whatever the general audience wants, they have to be even more versatile to justify themselves in an age when any music on earth is just a computer search away by playing something that hasn’t existed before. Tertium Quid come from diverse backgrounds, but they’re united in their commitment to the genuine experimentation necessary to make such music. As Illusion of Safety and in various collaborations, Burke has melded industrial, electro-acoustic improvisation, and ambient music. Horist, who first met Burke in 2001 when they played together in the subterranean confines of Chicago’s now-defunct Nervous Center, is an inveterate improviser/composer whose confederates have included Chris Cutler, Eyvind Kang, and KK Null. Abramson has played with Horist for years in the Master Musicians of Bukkake; he’s also worked with Wally Shoup, Climax Golden Twins, and Secret Chiefs 3. After their second gig they repaired to Gravelvoice studio for two days of improvisation that’s as intuitive, combustible, and otherly as that of certain other celebrated trios — AMM, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Fenn O’Berg — without sounding much like them.  The place where style and sound blurs into new music — that’s Tertium Quid’s territory.
Bill Meyer.





Initially formed for a one off live performance in Seattle in 2007, Tertium Quid is an improv collaboration between Daniel Burke (electronics & guitar), Bill Horist (guitar & devices) and Dave Abramson (drums/percussion/radio). In Early 2008 they reconvened at Gravelvoice studios Seattle to record for two days with engineer Scott Colburn. Their intention is to explore the boundaries of music, improvisation, and ambience.

/// Since moving to Seattle in 1995, BILL HORIST has established himself as a noted improviser/composer/performer along the West Coast and beyond. In the past decade, he has appeared on over 40 recordings and has performed almost 700 concerts in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan and throughout the US. Bill has performed and/or recorded with John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, KK Null, Matt Chamberlain, Trey Gunn(King Crimson), Chris Cutler, Kawabata Makoto(Acid Mothers Temple), Secret Chiefs 3, Eugene Chadbourne, Tatsuya Yoshida(Ruins), Amy Denio, Uchihashi Kazuhisa, Steve Fisk, Eyvind Kang, as well as members of Pearl Jam, Earth, The Boredoms and Larsen among others. Horist has toured and recorded with a number of his own bands including Nobodaddy, Phineas Gage, Axolotl, UnFolkUs, Zahir, Tablet and Nervewheel. He currently performs with Master Musicians of Bukkake, Ghidra and the Paul Rucker Ensemble in addition to several periodic collaborations.

///Dave Abramson is a drummer, percussionist and composer from New Jersey. He grew playing up in the hardcore and metal scene on the eastcoast and studied visual arts in upstate NY, where he began to play improvised and experimental music. Since moving to Seattle in 2002 he has collaborated with Eyvind Kang, Secret Chiefs 3, Climax Golden Twins, Lori Goldston, Greg Kelley, Wayne Horvitz, Chris Brokaw, Grails, Wally Shoup, etc. Abramson is a member of Diminished Men, Master Musicians of Bukkake, Spider Trio, what & Telescoping.

///Born in Chicago, Daniel Burke is a sound artist, photographer, painter, and graphic designer. After seeing - and being inspired by - the final 2 performances of Throbbing Gristle in 1981, Burke began exploring the use of sound. His playing and compositions have also been influenced by pop, rock, minimalism, classical avant garde, and Improvisation. In 1983 he started a project now known as Illusion Of Safety. In addition to his solo and group work as Illusion Of Safety, Burke has collaborated on live performances and recordings with Onde, Al Margolis, Jon Mueller, Randy Greif, Darrin Gray, John Duncan, Thymme Jones (Cheer-Accident), Jim O'Rourke, Thomas Dimuzio, Kevin Drumm, Big City Orchestra, Jeb Bishop, Ben Vida (Town and Country), Crash Worship, Eric Lunde (Boy Dirt Car), Jeff Jerman (Hands To), Jef Bek, Lorna Donley (DA!), and Travis Bird.