freejazzy
Unusual instrumentation. Synth bass, piano, drums & perc. And with that flute, trumpet and piano playing melodies (sometimes unisono) and solos. It's because of the combination that the voices gain a special quality. And not to forget because of these marvelous musicians.
Favorite track: One Mo' Dram.
Justin Tucker
What a beautiful record delighted to cross paths with Ruby Rushton and 22a. Could I suggest a 22a t shirt? I'd buy one. Favourite track one mo' dram but love this album from start to finish
Peter Jones
Oh this is utterly lovely. To be expected from this crew, of course.
And no, I'm not picking a favourite. It's not possible. I will call out "One Mo' Dram", an exquisite opener, the single "Eleven Grapes", "Lara's Theme"... I'll stop there!
The blurb says this "defies genre" - to me, it _defines_ jazz, free form, hard and yet sensually weaving around the listener.
Torsten
Ruby Rushton have definitely matured. Ironside is accomplished, self convinced while keeping RR’s previous playfulness. One of the best recent Jazz albums. Prayer for Grenfell is heart wrenching. Reminding me of Don Cherry at his best.
Favorite track: Prayer For Grenfell.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.
£7.99GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Includes alternate takes of "Lara's Theme" & "Where Are You Now?"
Only available on CD!
Includes unlimited streaming of IRONSIDE
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 24-bit/44.1kHz.
ships out within 5 days
Purchasable with gift card
£9.99GBPor more
Double 12" Vinyl Deluxe Gatefold
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
22a proudly present’s the 4th studio album from the Tenderlonious led jazz quartet - Ruby Rushton. ‘Ironside’ is Ruby Rushton’s most complete work to date and was recorded over a 2 day session at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Includes unlimited streaming of IRONSIDE
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
22a proudly present’s the 4th studio album from the Tenderlonious led jazz quartet - Ruby Rushton. ‘Ironside’ is Ruby Rushton’s most complete work to date and was recorded over a 2 day session at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
’Ironside’ sees the band continuing to push boundaries, and lead the way, with this new genre defying recording. The quartet’s fresh, high energy sound is rooted in the spiritual concepts of John Coltrane and Yusef Lateef, paying homage to The Headhunters and Weather Report heyday, whilst still adopting influences from hip hop, Afrobeat and the UK underground culture.
”Ironside” - meaning someone who is “courageous and possessing great physical and mental strength” sums up the Ruby Ruston journey so far. A personal, against the odds journey, that required Tenderlonious starting a label, 22a, back in 2013. Nobody much cared about jazz back in 2011 when the first Ruby Ruston album (‘Two For Joy’) was recorded, so the 22a platform was built, a home for friends and members of the family to release music from. Fast forward to 2019 and the jazz landscape is looking a whole lot healthier.
The album’s title track embodies its meaning more than any other track on the album. A highly technical, jazzy jungle mover, held down by Tim Carnegie’s drums and Tenderlonious’ expeditious flute solo.
”The Return Of The Hero” nods most explicitly to the ever-present flute hero Yusef Lateef, the prancing dance of “Eleven Grapes” builds a locked groove perpetually upwards in spirals of dizzying frency, whilst “Triceratops / The Caller” evokes alternating contributions from 4 Hero’s sampled breaks, J-Dilla’s loping beats and Lonnie Liston Smith’s cosmic keys, all of which coalesce in a perfect, joyous blend.
The solemn beauty of “Prayer for Greenfell” is a respectful and dignified memorial, befitting of the magnitude of many lives stolen and “Pingwin VI” is dedicated to another hero of Tenderlonious - the Polish jazz legend Krzysztof Komeda.
UK Tour Dates:
29th March - The Fiddlers - Bristol
4th April - Patterns - Brighton
5th April - XOYO - London (Album Launch)
23rd April - Soup Kitchen - Manchester
24th April - Chameleon - Nottingham
25th April - Headrow House - Leeds
26th April - Jacaranda / Phase One - Liverpool
27th April - TBC - Glasgow
28th April - The Crescent – York
credits
released April 5, 2019
Edward Cawthorne; flute, soprano sax, synth, wah pedal, percussion
Nick Walters; trumpet, percussion
Aidan Shepherd; Fender Rhodes, Nord Stage, piano, bass synth
Tim Carnegie; drums
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios 30th September & 16th December 2018
Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 & 8 written & arranged by Edward Cawthorne Tracks 3 & 5 written & arranged by Aidan Shepherd
Track 9 written & arranged by Aidan Shepherd & Edward Cawthorne Track 10 written by Krzysztof Komeda
Recording Engineer; Matt Mysko
Assistant Recording Engineer; Andy Maxwell
Mixing Engineer; Rhys Downing, except tracks 1 & 5; Matt Mysko
Mastering Engineer; Jason Gosling
Executive Producer; Dennis Ayler
Photography; Lou Jasmine & Jim Aindow
Cover Design; Theo Ackroyd
This is my top 5 favorite jazz album of 2024 (it didn't release this year). I hadn't listened to much jazz flute prior to this so this album took me by surprise. With limited knowledge I could compare to late 70s to 80s jazz - think of Weather Report, Herbie, Chick Corea, heck Dorothy Ashby even - there is an essence of those greats in here but with a modern twist of some neo-soul (think along the lines of Abase's first album).
Listen to with some good headphones!!!!! nvan92