Underground UK jazz pioneers, Ruby Rushton, are one of the leading and most forward-thinking bands to emerge from London’s thriving scene. Their music incorporates the influence of jazz heroes; John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Yusef Lateef, with rhythms, energy and sound from afrobeat, latin and hip hop. The band are the key component and inspiration for record label 22a, one of the UK’s most important and widely respected independent labels. The Tenderlonious-led band are a crucial and influential force in the UK Jazz scene.

The band was established by Tenderlonious in 2011 and was the catalyst for the creation of his record label, 22a. Ruby Rushton recorded their debut album, ‘Two For Joy’, at the end of 2011 and waited for the right opportunity to share it with the world. Fast forward four years to 2015 and Tenderlonious’s label, 22a, was in full flow and suddenly there was a platform and the beginnings of the UK “jazz resurgence”.

With a 22a Boiler Room session under their belt - one of the first to include a live jazz performance - the album was released to much critical acclaim and paved the way for the emergent UK jazz scene.

In 2017 the quartet expanded to a sextet, (to include electric bass and percussion), and released two more albums - 'Trudi's Songbook: Volume One' & 'Trudi's Songbook: Volume Two’. Both albums were met with mass acclaim, receiving award nominations and regular airtime from BBC6 Music, Gilles Peterson, Jazz FM, Bradley Zero and led to headline performances at legendary London venues; Ronnie Scott's and The Jazz Cafe, as well as festival slots across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. 

In 2018 the band - restored to their foundation quartet line up (with Tim Carnegie replacing Yussef Dayes on drums) - spent two days at Abbey Road recording their fourth album ‘Ironside’. Released in 2019 ‘Ironside’ saw the band expanding their sound and pushing musical boundaries within the jazz realm. The album was also featured as part of The Vinyl Factory and Bandcamp albums of the year, which led to performances at some of the UK and Europe's leading jazz festivals such as Love Supreme, Jazz Jamboree and Jazz à Vienne. 

In the years that followed Ruby Rushton released three EPs, ‘Sun Khosi’, ‘Gideon’s Way’ and more recently ‘Stapodia’, (the latter being the result of a musical retreat that took place in Mykonos, in collaboration with Maera Music). The creation of these EPs created momentum and inspiration for an exciting writing and recording process for their forthcoming album ‘Legacy!’, due for release later this year on 22a. 

2025 finds Ruby Rushton in stronger form than ever before - this is a band at the peak of their powers; a tight group of friends and musicians who are expressing themselves - free of inhibitions. Fourteen years on from recording 'Two For Joy' this latest body of work is another giant leap forward. Trademark catchy riffs and heady grooves are still there but are now heightened by a level of maturity and sense of belonging not encountered previously... This is their Legacy!