The long-awaited debut album from exciting, Irish powerhouse the RBG Trio has been released September 20, 2023 on Auragami Records.
The full length-album’s (named after the band itself) twelve original tracks and two alternate takes are penned by tenor saxophonist Meilana Gillard, double-bassist Dave Redmond, and drummer Kevin Brady. There is a special magic and freshness that comes with brand new material that hasn’t been broken in by touring. A big leap of faith was taken by RBG Trio to rely on their musical instincts though the majority of the music was mostly brand new to them. It paid off in many beautiful ways. No autopilots were flying the plane, no relying on old themes, and no predictable comfort zones, only the moment and making the best of it.
In 2020 and 2022, RBG Trio released both a cover of ‘Black Hole Sun’ (Soundgarden, Chris Cornell), and an original by Gillard entitled ‘Neither Here no There’. Both of these could be labeled as alternative or grunge-influenced. While the trio has traces of those themes in tracks like ‘Learn to Surf’ (Gillard), of the collective composition ‘Deep Blue’, they touch on many more themes here from swinging to free and everything in between. From the experimental ‘Drum Lullaby’ (Gillard) , to the heartache of ‘Aprés’ (Redmond) one thing is certain, this trio is comfortable taking risks and surrendering to the moment.
Track listing:
Dry Dry Redmond
Chrysalis Gillard
Centro Redmond
Learn to Surf Gillard
Take your Time Gillard
Aprés Redmond
Faultlines Redmond
Deep Blue Redmond, Brady, Gillard
In the Dark Gillard
Drum Lullaby Gillard
A Dude Abides Brady
Bending Light Gillard
Take your Time (Alternate Take) Gillard
Drip Dry (Alternate Take) Redmond
©2023 Auragami Records - Meilana Gillard
Dave Redmond: double bass
Kevin Brady: Drums
Meilana Gillard: Tenor & Alto Saxophones
‘RBG Trio’ was made possible by funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (recipient - Meilana Gillard).
Recorded April 7-8, 2023 at Grouse Lodge Studios in Rosemount, County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland
Recorded by Alex Borwick
Mixed and Mastered by Dave Darlington (Bass Hit Recording, NYC)
Artwork by Meilana Gillard
Photography by Michael Barkley
Meilana Gillard records on Barkley Microphones
