snobb
Eight years after they recorded their debut album, English spiritual jazz quartet Ruby Rushton led by now rising solo-star Tenderlonious releases their new album. Band of almost same line-up (with only drummer changed from Yussef Dayes to Tim Carnegie) plays tuneful and soulful fusion recalling early 70s spiritual jazz of Yusef Lateef slightly modernized with hip-hop.
Two album's songs ("One Mo' Dram" and "Eleven Grapes") has been already released as single a month ago and presented upcoming album well. After two successful albums released by Tenderlonious under his own name during last two years, his decision to reunite the old band doesn't look strange. During last decade London music scene changed dramatically from deep marginal underground to fashionable place so Ruby Rushton's music sounds right in place here.
There are not much of news or unusual tricks here on this album (as in almost any music coming from London jazz scene nowadays) but it works well presenting to younger generation some best things jazz invited four decades ago. Lot of flute/sax soloing, African dance-able rhythms,memorable melodies and very positive atmosphere in general works like magnet after years of destructiveness, deconstruction and dark nihilism dominated on musical scenes.
Surprisingly enough, album closes with beautiful and sensitive "Pingwin" - dedication to Polish cult jazz composer and musician Krzysztof Komeda usually not widely known outside of his home country.