photo © boryana pandova
Viktor Benev - vocal, malletkat, synthesizers, electronics
EVDN. - bass guitar
oft robin is a european instrumental trio active since 2019. since its creation, the group, in constant development, stands out with an eclecticism based on the traces left by esbjörn svensson trio in the history of jazz of the last century. By “jazz” we do not mean a continuity of the historically traditional music from the United States, but rather a desire to take the liberating language of this music and redefine the genre by incorporating elements as diverse as the use of sound objects according to the French “traité de la musique concrète”, elements coming from progressive rock, an emblematic genre of the British group Radiohead, as well as a melodic lyricism based on neo-classical music.
Oft Robin has started to retain European attention, especially after being chosen among the groups playing at the showcase of the European Jazz Conference in 2022, prized by the entire community of actors in the sector.
The trio has toured regularly in Europe and has performed at festivals such as Trondheim Jazz Festival (Norway), Kultursommer Festival (Austria), Varna International Jazz Festival (Bulgaria), A to Jazz Festival (Bulgaria), Q-Jazz Festival (Bulgaria), as well as in small clubs where jazz was born and propelled several groups towards an international career.
The group did records for the national recordings archive of the Bulgarian National Radio and was a soloist of the Big Band of the same, presenting its own repertoire, composed and arranged mainly by the founder and multi-instrumentalist Viktor Benev.
PRESS
“The band played very well together and all three were excellent jazz musicians with great solos. I still have to emphasize Viktor Benev and his incredibly great playing on malletKAT, which was innovative and exciting both rhythmically and tonal.”
Kåre Kolve on Oft Robin’s performance at Trondheim Jazz Festival
“Intriguing, contemporary original music that builds its own language and sonority. The young musicians do not take the path of the interpreter, looking for dividends from what was created before them, but, like true creators, strive to envision and construct their own path in music.”
antoni donchev Conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Big Band
DISCOGRAPHY
VIDEOS
CONTACT