Ruby Rushton

Ruby Rushton sounds like the intersection of a 1970s spiritual jazz session and a modern London club night. Led by Tenderlonious, the music is defined by its incredibly agile woodwind leads, particularly the flute, which dances over complex, driving rhythms. There is a warmth to the recording that feels like high-quality analog tape, giving the drums a punchy, tactile presence and the synths a soft, glowing edge.

What sets them apart is the discipline of their arrangements. While many of their contemporaries lean into loose, sprawling jams, Ruby Rushton often favors tight, interlocking horn lines and precise rhythmic shifts. They manage to channel the cosmic energy of Yusef Lateef or John Coltrane while grounding it in the syncopated languages of hip-hop, house, and Afrobeat. It is music that feels intellectually stimulating but physically urgent.

Start with 'Ironside' to hear the band at their most cohesive and energetic. It perfectly captures their ability to move from meditative, modal passages into explosive, high-tempo grooves. If you prefer something slightly more episodic and melodic, the 'Trudi’s Songbook' volumes offer a fantastic window into their earlier, soul-inflected explorations.