ROBERT RUSSELL TRIO

The jazz-fusion ensemble known as Robert Russell Trio, consisting of Tanveer Haque on bass guitar, Towfiq Arifin on drums and Robert Russell on keys, set an explosion of polychromatic sounds on the stage of The Junction Dhaka in the evening of August 30, 2018. 

The show kicked off with a cover of Elevation Of Love by Esbjorn Svensson Trio. Starting with a gleeful melody, with a hint of math-rock elements, the song progressed into an outro reminiscent of 80s synthwave sounds, which was well-liked by the enthusiastic audience.

However, what took me by surprise was their original composition called Thoughts In Transit. Starting with a curious piano piece with subtle percussion sounds vibrating into the song, the song slowly stepped into a whimsical spookiness that would mimick a jazz rendition of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. This was followed by another original, after which came Paranoid Android by Radiohead. While the rock influenced bass line perfectly complemented the funky sounds on the keyboard, the drummer used every corner of the cymbals on his drumset to create little fireworks of sounds.

The band also featured renowned dhol player, Md Nazrul Islam on stage as a guest musician for two of their original tracks. Da Grin showcased a middle-east influenced jazz sound, which encapsulated the group's individually diverse experiences and knowledge in music. Throughout each song, the chemistry between each musician and their respective instruments reaffirmed the listener that music has no language. When the trio was asked about their plans for the future, they answered unanimously that continuing to get better at what they do was the only goal.

With newer music developing in the underground scene of Dhaka, acts such as Robert Russell Trio gives hope for new dimensions and diversity for the generations of music-enthusiasts to come.