iSound

Three Wise Men There’s a joke going around that Bloomington needs another jazz group like it needs, well, you fill in the clever statement of your choice, but the emergence of the 3rd Man isn’t just another jazz group. A subset of BeebleBrox, 3rd Man began last summer when a light bulb went off over bassist Jack Helsley’s head. Ripe for experimentation, the group decided to try a guitar trio. With drummer Pete Wilhoit completing the triangle, the 3rd Man group excels because the smaller format better serves Kienle’s complex arrangements and compositions. “In a trio every instrument has its own space,” Kienle said. “There is nothing getting in the way.” Freed from the distractions of large ensembles, Kienle and Co. were able to stretch the boundaries and unreel their musical whims on their new self-titled debut. “I would consider it to be the jazziest recording that I have ever done,” said the 37-year-old, who cites John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny and John Scofield as influences. W...