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JOHN KRISPIN jkrispin@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – A local musical group whose work almost defies classification brought its style downtown Saturday evening.

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Jamie Orfanella plays the didgeridoo with the band ’Tribal Waves World Music Trio’ at the Fine Arts Fiesta.

BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER

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The ‘Tribal Waves Music Trio’ entertains. From left are guitarist Dmitriy Soliterman, drummer Matt Scola and didgeridoo player Jamie Orfanella.

BILL TARUTIS/for the times leader

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The Tribal Waves World Music Trio played both modern and traditional improvisational music for more than 100 seated and countless walking patrons for nearly an hour at the 55th annual Fine Arts Fiesta.

“This performance was great,” said Jamie Orfanella, 44, of Kingston. “Aside from the running around to get on stage, this was fun.” Orfanella has been a music teacher at Valley View High School for the past 11 years.

The trio, consisting of Orfanella on the didgeridoo, flutes and auxiliary percussion, Matt Scola on the drums, and Dmitriy Soliterman on the guitar and the bouzouki, has collectively performed for only 10 months. They haveno opposition toward a loosely bound musical arrangement because it brings the artist out in them.

“We start with a little seed of an idea,” said Scola, 40, originally from the Bronx, N.Y., but who now finds Scranton home. “From there we just feel it.”

“We play anything that strikes us,” added Orfanella.

According to their Facebook social network page, Tribal Waves is a world ambient trance trio performing songs from ancient cultures and modern improvisations.

During the course of seven compilations Saturday evening, the group played renditions of John Fogerty’s “Old Man Down the Road” and the Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” both leading into a style called ‘improv’.

“Every time we play these songs, there’s something always different,” said Soliterman, 47, originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, now residing in Larksville. “It’s also a good chance to play medieval and ethnic melodies, which aren’t played too often.” Soliterman added that, as a musician for most of his life, he feeds off the improvisation and rare melodies he and his band mates display.

They have played regionally in local bars, food stores and art exhibits, such as Bart & Urby’s in Wilkes-Barre, Everything Natural in Clarks Summit and Artists for Artists in Scranton. They’ve also played both the University of Scranton and King’s College.

The trio plans on playing today on the corner of East Market Street and Public Square from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.

After the Fine Arts Fiesta, their next performance will be in Treman State Park in Ithaca, N.Y., for the Treeman Didgeridoo and Drum Festival slated for mid-July.