Saturday morning listen: Matt Ridley's 'Zelensky' from the bassist's new live album

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l-r Tom Hewson, Ant Law, Matt Ridley, Alex Hitchcock, Marc Michel. Photo: press

'Zelensky', is our absorbing Saturday morning listen today from bassist Matt Ridley's The Antidote: Live At The London Jazz Festival out next month on the Ubuntu label which includes unreleased material plus live versions from their 2021 studio album. Ridley, who has toured widely with Darius Brubeck in recent years, is here with saxist Alex Hitchcock, guitarist Ant Law, pianist Tom Hewson and drummer Marc Michel on a go-ahead track whose twists and turns keep you hooked and which features a scorching sax solo from Hitchcock. Essential listening for any day of the week.

Tags: saturday morning listen

More from Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter following the exhilarations of Super Blue a couple of years ago here once again with Butcher Brown drummer Corey Fonville and bassist-keyboardist DJ Harrison. Elling kicks things off to the manner born on Joni Mitchell's 'Black Crow' on what proves not at all an introverted chin-striking affair at all because Elling is the complete opposite - as extrovert as you will ever hear him. A set that folds in Bob Dorough, Ron Sexsmith and Billy Collins numbers Elling provides lyrics for Ornette Coleman's 'Lonely Woman' and Hunter too adds a good deal of buoyancy and a lively horn section is patient responder to the boisterous rhythms spilling out just about everywhere. An album that breathes new life into contemporary jazz vocals approaches once again. Out today

Saturday morning listen: Matt Ridley's 'Zelensky' from the bassist's new live album

Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree, Edition ****