ruby rushton: legacy!
Francisco Espregueira
Ruby Rushton, one of the UK’s most influential jazz groups, is about to drop their fifth studio album, Legacy!, via the 22a label run by band leader Tenderlonious (Ed Cawthorne). While the London-based quartet—which includes keyboardist Aidan Shepherd, trumpeter Nick Walters, and drummer Tim Carnegie—is rooted in the spiritual concepts of jazz greats like John Coltrane, their sound always incorporates the energy of a myriad of other genres, such as hip-hop and Afrobeat. This time, they decided to evolve their famously raw "one take" approach. They still laid down live takes across four days of creative joy at Rimshot Studios, but they added layers of Tenderlonious’ studio magic, blending virtuosic musicianship with production polish.
The result is a wider, more expansive sonic experience. Legacy! features new music written primarily by Tenderlonious and Shepherd, showcasing a band at the peak of their powers after more than a decade together. Though the trademark catchy riffs and heady grooves are all present, the compositions are now heightened by a fresh sense of maturity and belonging. Legacy! marks an exciting new chapter for a band that will be remembered for decades as one of the best jazz acts of its time. Available on vinyl, or the jazz heads