Ruby Rushton: Legacy!

Legacy! is the fifth studio album from Ruby Rushton. For the avoidance of doubt, Ruby Rushton is a band named after the grandmother of the bandleader Ed Cawthorne, who prefers to be known under his stage name of Tenderlonious. Fortunately, there is no confusion when it comes to their original compositions, written by Tenderlonious and keyboard player Aidan Shepherd. They are bright, cohesive and hugely effective.

Previously, the band, which also features trumpeter Nick Walters and drummer Tim Carnegie, favored a raw, single-take live approach in the studio, without any post-production embellishments. For Legacy!, however, they have embraced a different approach. Drawing on Tenderlonious' studio abilities, they have layered flute and saxophone over Walters' trumpet and flugelhorn, with all members contributing additional percussion. The result demonstrates admirable restraint: the arrangements feel light and warm, enhanced rather than overproduced, with just the right touch of studio polish to elevate the band's natural chemistry.

Armed with this new approach, the band takes flight. "Charlie's Way" opens with a light horn swing before Tenderlonious' flute flies above their motif, then changes pace as the band demonstrates their effective interplay in this classy composition. Driven by Carnegie's drums, "La Niña" features Walters' terrific trumpet solo before Shepherd's piano brings balm. "Otto" is a model of ballad performance with excellent piano and soprano sax.

"Theme from Legacy!" is interspersed through the album in three separate parts. It may seem an unconventional approach, but repeated listens bring it into focus and it soon proves a relentless earworm. "Walk to Regio," inspired by Isaac Hayes' "Walk from Regio's," is an up-tempo, soulful gem with driving rhythms, swirling alto sax and trumpet, with Shepherd's piano work once again taking center stage.

Following on from his You Know I Care album (22a, 2023), reviewed here, Tenderlonious seems to have completed his transition from tenor to alto saxophone, and he shows full command in his fast, blistering attack on "The Lighthouse" before Walters and Carnegie add their dynamic solos.

The studio enhancements have broadened the band's soundscape and their blend of trumpet, saxophones and buoyant flute proves constantly engaging. Shepherd's synthesized bass, alongside Carnegie's rhythms, provides a solid foundation for compositions brimming with nimble hooks and rich textures. An album of inventive ensemble playing, captivating, fluid and hugely entertaining throughout.

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