29th August 2013: BIG NEWS: WWR Signs bassist and composer Matt Ridley + his debut album ‘Thymos’ launches 14th Oct worldwide + Fall Album Launch Tour
Announcing the signing and debut album from bassist and composer Matt Ridley.
Thymos
release date: October 14, 2013 worldwide
Matt Ridley – Double Bass
John Turville – Piano
George Hart – Drums
with:
Jason Yarde – Saxophones
Attab Haddad – Oud
Vasilis Sirikis – Percussion
Whirlwind Recordings is proud to introduce Thymos, the ambitious debut solo-album from double bassist and composer Matt Ridley, a London-based musician who is known as one of the prominent talents of his generation. An album that blurs the line between genres, the origins of Thymos came from Ridley’s collaborations with Oud virtuoso Attab Haddad (featured on the album), and Azeri violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva (joint composer of ‘Hijaz’), in a band featuring pianist Mercury Award Nominated artist Kit Downes and percussionist Vasilis Sirikis (also featured).
“I envisaged a sound encompassing the exotic flavors and emotions of Middle Eastern music with the jazz sensibility of improvisation on complex structures,” says Ridley on the inspiration behind the original music on the album. By fusing the modal and rhythmic elements of Middle-Eastern music with the harmonic complexities of jazz, Ridley’s composition ‘Siddhartha’ was born, and what followed was a stream of ideas which aligned themselves into the other music on the album, with influences as diverse as funk, contemporary jazz inspired by both the London and NYC scenes, composers Kenny Wheeler and Vijay Iyer, as well as 20th century minimalism.
The core of the album is the tight unit that is the Matt Ridley Trio. Comprised of the award-winning pianist John Turville, the highly musical (not to mention fiercely virtuosic) drumming talents of George Hart, and Ridley at the helm, the trio soars through the leaders’ genre-bending improvisational territory with wit and aplomb, no matter if the musical terrain is tricksy or serene, creating a unique sound world unlike any working unit in London today. As a bassist, Ridley is solid to the core, yet light on his fingers across the fretboard as he navigates his own compositions, using them as a vehicle for expression as both a bassist and accomplished soloist. Special guest saxophonist and globally recognized composer Jason Yarde perfectly assimilated the feeling of RIdley’s compositions, singing the melodies from the depths of his soul, and improvising in a way that few saxophonists working today could conceive.
The result is Ridley’s shining achievement; a debut album that is an honest and genuine representation of his musical tastes and experiences, featuring brilliant improvisations from all members of the band, and retaining an inspired and exciting cohesive group-sound throughout.
CHECK THE THYMOS ALBUM PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Catch the Matt Ridley Trio on tour across the UK starting with the official album launch at the Pizza Express Jazz Club. Matt’s group will embark on a major UK album launch tour starting in OCT and for more information on dates visit our Events page or here’s a quicklink to Matt’s dates here.