Tuatara Members, Gear & Sound

Genre

Members

Select a Tuatara band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.

Peter Buck

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

R.E.M. The Minus 5 Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 Tired Pony Nigel & the Crosses The Baseball Project Filthy Friends Hindu Love Gods Slow Music Bingo Hand Job The No Ones Arthur Buck Barrett Martin Group Full Time Men Musical Kings

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Steve Berlin

Roles:

Saxophonist

Groups:

Los Lobos R.A.D.D. (Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving) The Flesh Eaters

Needs more gear

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Barrett Martin

Roles:

Drummer Composer

Groups:

The Desert Sessions Mad Season Screaming Trees Skin Yard Walking Papers Levee Walkers Endino's Earthworm Barrett Martin Group

No gear added

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Scott McCaughey

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

R.E.M. The Minus 5 Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 The New Original Sonic Sound Tired Pony The Young Fresh Fellows Four Croakers The Fresh Mud Choir The Baseball Project Filthy Friends The No Ones His Mortal Enemies

No gear added

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Skerik

Roles:

Saxophonist

Groups:

Mad Season The Dead Kenny G's Heather Duby & Elemental The Clinton Administration Sound Cipher Khu.éex' Black Frames Ponga The Golden Road Beta Popes Critters Buggin Crack Sabbath Skerik & The Keefus Trio DRKWAV Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Skerik’s Bandalabra Les Claypool's Bastard Jazz Les Claypool's Fancy Band The Les Claypool Frog Brigade Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade Garage A Trois

No gear added

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Justin Harwood

Groups:

The Chills

No gear added

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Craig Flory

Roles:

Guitarist Keyboardist

Groups:

The New Original Sonic Sound Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet

No gear added

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Elizabeth Pupo-Walker

Roles:

Drummer

No gear added

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About

Tuatara is an avant-garde instrumental supergroup that emerged in the late 1990s, known for its eclectic blend of jazz, electronic, ambient, and world music influences. Founded by Barrett Martin (drums/composer), Justin Harwood (bass/composer), Peter Buck (guitar/composer), and Skerik (saxophone/composer), the group expanded to include numerous musicians over time, creating a rich tapestry of sound across seven studio albums and one live album. Despite their limited touring schedule, Tuatara's innovative compositions and collaborations with various artists have left a lasting imprint on the instrumental music scene.

How to Sound Like Tuatara

Tuatara's sound is characterized by its dynamic fusion of jazz improvisation and world music rhythms, creating a lush, cinematic experience. The use of ethereal guitar tones, often achieved through instruments like the Rickenbacker 360 Electric Guitar and Fender Telecaster Custom Electric Guitar, adds a shimmering quality to their music. The saxophone's soulful, expressive lines weave seamlessly with layered percussion and bass, crafting an immersive, ambient soundscape. The organic interplay between acoustic and electric elements results in a vibe that is both exploratory and grounded, appealing to musicians who appreciate intricate, genre-defying compositions.

Discography

Breaking The Ethers

1997

Trading With The Enemy

1998

Cinemathique

2002

The Loading Program

2003

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

2007

The Here and the Gone

2008

Underworld

2014

Shamanic Nights: Live in the City

2016

Get the Tuatara Sound

Want to sound like Tuatara? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.

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