Robbie Melville - guitar Sophie Dunn - violin/viola Phil Mcleod - accordion
Robbie Melville's Secret Trio makes instrumental music. The three musicians wander through a landscape of chamber music, contemporary jazz, Nordic folk and imaginary film scores.
Featuring violinist Sophie Dunn (Devil Goat Family String Band), accordionist Phil Mcleod (The Blue Grassy Knoll) and guitarist/composer Robbie Melville, their performances balance meticulous composition with free-spirited improvisation, moving from one small story to the next.
Inspired by the understated humour of Richard Brautigan, the observant photographs of Viktor Kolář and the quietly cinematic scores of Mark Orton, the trio embraces restraint as readily as exuberance, finding equal joy in melody, texture and the unexpected. Melville introduces many of the pieces with a story. Some of them are true. Then the trio plays.
The name Secret Trio comes from Melville's reluctance to admit - even to himself - that he was beginning another musical project.