Trevor Robertson Paints His Grief in 'Bright Colors'

Every sound you hear exists because of something that came before it. Trevor Robertson knows exactly what stands behind the music on Bright Colors, and he is happy to share. This live-recorded jazz album grew out of years of loss and growth, and it pays tribute to Iesha Renee Spence Oyabunmi, whose influence he says still lives and thrives in this world.

Trevor Robertson is a Brooklyn-based bassist and composer whose background moves between jazz and Western classical settings. He is a two-time winner of the Local Arts Support Grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council, and he co-hosts the “Jazz in the Basement” Monday night jam session at Sour Mouse on the Lower East Side alongside guitarist Charles Colizza. That session has been a hub for the neighborhood’s jazz scene since 2022. Furthermore, his résumé includes stages like Carnegie Hall, 54 Below, and Ornithology Jazz Club. His playing also nods to bass heroes such as Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Christian McBride, and Edgar Meyer.

Bright Colors is his first professional album as a bandleader, and it puts his original compositions front and center. The quintet includes international competition winners and world-renowned players, with Hina Oikawa on saxophone, Seoyeon Im on violin, Charles Colizza on guitar, and Ben Freidkin on drums. Additionally, the music was recorded live in 2025 at Ornithology Jazz Club, Scholes Street Studio, and the Brooklyn Public Library, and that setting gives the performances room to stretch.

The story behind the title is simple and moving. Trevor Robertson says the first definite thing he ever said about Iesha Spence was that she liked bright colors. He was describing her vibrant oranges, yellows, greens, and blues, but the phrase grew to fit her whole personality. She loved music blasting from her speakers, laughed with her whole body, and told stories that made you want to listen for days. In his telling, the depth of her passion and compassion goes beyond what words can describe.

That sensory maximalism shows up right away on the title track, “Bright Colors.” It opens the album as an invitation into an exploration of sound. Driving swing drops into halftime rock grooves. Flourishes pull the song in many directions over almost ten minutes. Even so, it works as a great way to draw the listener in, and a piece this restless and many-colored feels like a fitting portrait.

Next, “Hyacinth Season” sends sounds in every direction, yet they blend seamlessly, even when they act as counterpoints to one another. The bass playing around the three-minute mark is incredible. Meanwhile, the layers of sound fill the mind with visions, which suits a record about remembering a vivid person.

“The Axe Did Not Forget, for Alas! It Was Made Out of Wood,” which is true free-form experimentation. The title is a mouthful, and the music is just as bold. There are no rules here, only players exploring what their instruments can do. As a result, it feels like standing in the middle of a jam session with extraordinary musicians who have no fear of being themselves.

A funky beat takes over on “On.” The bass and drums set the spine of the groove while the saxophone takes control of the extremities. Movement stays fluid and unhinged, and the funk vibe lasts all the way through, which leaves room for every performer to experiment. It is easy to imagine Iesha dancing to it, given how Trevor describes her body moving with such fluidity.

Power takes center stage on “More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine.” Each instrument shows its own strength while still becoming part of the bigger whole. Sax and guitar flourishes stand out, and the band can dominate without losing its balance with the full sonic exploration. Considering how Trevor Robertson speaks of Iesha’s passion, the title reads like a statement about her.

The closer “She Never Says Goodbye, Only Later” ends the album with tenderness and softness. The start is easygoing, and then the music builds up the scale. It is slightly more minimalistic than the rest of the album, but the emotion truly pours out here. The title echoes his own words, since he says it feels inaccurate to say she died. Her name means “life” or “she lives,” and this track makes that meaning feel true.

In all, Bright Colors turns grief into a celebration without playing it safe. Trevor Robertson and his quintet move through swing, funk, free improvisation, and counterpoint with confidence, and the live recording keeps every moment vivid. The album is available now on Bandcamp, and the official release show takes place Wednesday, October 28, at Five Spot Jazz in New York.