Netherlands-based music composer Ruud Voesten takes us through a journey, an untraditional one, perhaps, but one that will haunt us for some time to come.
Ruud takes us through a journey to hell, contemplating the seven deadly sins…based on his time researching Dante Alighieri’s Inferno with his jazz album “Ambrosia”.
Ruud, as a composer and jazz band leader…takes things into his own hands and creates a jazz masterpiece to goes hand in hand with Dante’s Inferno.
…it sounds like a far-fetched idea, sure, jazz and hell, together, in the same sentence…but, it works…and actually more than you’d think…Ruud’s jazz approach really creates a musical soundtrack to Inferno…that has all the emotional energy and can push us emotionally down certain roads…
The album is made up of 12 tracks, totaling around 1 hour of jazz heaven…but talks about hell…starting with the foundational first track “Within a Forest Dark”…a soundtrack mood-setting track that keeps on evolving, not just a verse and chorus…no, it continues to change and evolve into many sections…drones…melodies…conveying many emotions and translating stories into music.
“Ambrosia” is a very soundtrack-like album…and it certainly is, but by adopting a jazz direction, everything it touches becomes more magical…any story it tells is mesmerizing…like with the third track “This Is Fine”…a saxophone leading track, but with the help of the upright bass, jazz hi-hats, and some keys…it’s dream-like.
The album continues to stun at every corner, with every track…and some have more shock value than others…like “Empty”.
“Empty” starts with a shocking sound that you wouldn’t find in a jazz setting…and the melodies are also intriguing…bit of a shock, a hint of terror, and some mystery…it’s one of the most out-of-the-box jazz melodies you could hear, especially in a soundtrack context.
…with its trend of shocking and stunning us, “Ambrosia” manages to keep all of its 12 tracks unique, and tell a story, but with hugely varying emotions…each track is a story in itself…
This is a highly recommended journey, a journey that transcends music, storytelling, and soundtracks…it’s all of the above, masterfully wrapped in an album that has so much attention to detail, even the artwork is a masterpiece, with its mosaic drawing of Dante himself.
Go check out this masterpiece of a jazz album, “Ambrosia” by Ruud Voesten…right now.
The album will be released on ZenneZ Records right away followed by a Dutch tour…here are the dates…
24-09 Limburg Jazz, Venlo
30-09 Diekhuus, Middelharnis
12-10 Pletterij, Haarlem
15-11 Orpheus, Apeldoorn
18-11 Roode Bioscoop, Amsterdam
19-11 Taste of Jazz, Deventer
16-12 Artishock, Soest
27-12 Bimhuis, Amsterdam
…and these are the amazing musicians behind the music…
Mo van der Does – Alto saxophone
Wietse Voermans – Tenor saxophone
Koen Schalkwijk – Grand piano
Tijs Klaassen – Double bass
Ruud Voesten – Drums and composition
Recording and mixing were done by Micha de Kanter and the Mastering was by Wessel Oltheten, Studio: Fattoria Musica (DE)
Wishing Ruud and the band all the best in life. I can’t imagine what will come out next from this great artist…but we’re sure it’s going to be phenomenal.
Cheers!
For more reviews on this artist. Click Here.