Jazz Articles about Tom Ridout

About Tom Ridout

Album Review

Billy Marrows And Grande Familia: The Penelope Album Live

Read "The Penelope Album Live" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
April 15, 2025

In 2024 London-based guitarist and composer Billy Marrows formed a 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble. Together as Billy Marrows and Grande Familia, they released their debut album, Penelope (Self Produced), in memory of Marrows' mother, Penny. This deeply personal project used tunes he had written during her battle with cancer. The band featured Marrows' musical friends and relations playing in various formats: as a 12-piece ensemble, in smaller combinations and Marrows' solo guitar pieces. The project was used to raise funds for ...

Album Review

Billy Marrows and Grande Família: Penelope

by Neil Duggan
April 14, 2024

London-based guitarist and composer Billy Marrows brings us a new 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble, Grande Família. It is a family affair with members of his extended family and a wider circle of close friends and musical associates making up the group. Their debut album, Penelope, is released in memory of Marrows' mother, Penny. Most of the music was written by Marrows as a surprise for his mother during her battle with cancer. All proceeds go to World Child Cancer, a charity ...

Album Review

Tom Ridout: No Excuses

Read "No Excuses" reviewed by Thomas Earl

by Thomas Earl
January 9, 2018

The name Tom Ridout may be familiar following his appearance in the Final of the BBC's Young Jazz Musician Competition in 2016. His sister, Alexandra, went on to win the Award. Any hard feelings have been set aside, however, with both siblings featuring on Tom's debut album, No Excuses. Opting for diversity over continuity, No Excuses weaves through a range of styles and influences, from Jazz-Rock fusion to traditional English folk. “What It Would" is a highlight, its ...