Ruud Voesten drops new record ‘Ambrosia’

Hailing from Rotterdam in The Netherlands, Ruud Voesten is a visionary drummer and composer who seized the opportunity of the free time during the pandemic in 2020 to start crafting his own sonic vision. The spare time, contemplative atmosphere that surrounded us during lockdowns and his extraordinary musical talent proved to be a winning formula for Ruud to lay the foundation for a truly original artistic endeavour.

Digging into one of the most famous literary works of all time, he studied Dante Alighieri’s iconic Inferno, the first part of the epic poem, The Divine Comedy. In the context of Dante’s journey through the inferno, Ruud ventured on his own exploration of the capital sins, examining themes of lust, anger and betrayal and filtering them through his original creative lens.

Linking up with an ensemble of talented musicians, joining Ruud Voesten on his adventure are Mo van der Does and on alto and tenor saxophone respectively, Koen Schalkwijk on the grand piano and double bass player Tijs Klaassen. Together they shared the first single in this project with “Clickbait Merchants,” released in April, followed by the sophomore single, “Goesting,” in June and “The Crypto Shuffle” in August.

Now, currently on a Dutch tour, Ruud brings us his first full-length release with the album titled Ambrosia, featuring twelve tracks composed to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the record takes us on a sonic trip through hell. Recorded and mixed by Micha de Kanter and mastered by Wessel Oltheten, Ruud Voesten and his band headed to the Fattoria Musica studio in Germany to create the album.

Released via ZenneZ Records, the album kicks off with the opening track “Within a Forest Dark,” setting the scene with a downtempo jazz arrangement of piano leads, droning string tones and the delicate patter of drum brushes. Building up the melodic aesthetic with smooth sax leads, floating above the subtly moody arrangement, it’s an immersive and transportive piece that slips you into the heart of the journey the album presents.

“Enter Our Hero” pops with lively rhythm and upbeat writing. Warm sax tones spin playful leads over bouncy drums, delicate piano chords and pulsing bass lines to craft an elegant jazz jam full of slick musicianship and sonic charm. With “This Is Fine,” Ruud Voesten creates an intriguing soundscape of mellow energy as stretching sax leads glide over a sparse arrangement of soft electric piano tones. Joined by the gentle thump of double bass and intricate patter of cymbals, the song creates a superb smokey lounge vibe.

Other highlights on the record include songs like “The Crypto Shuffle” which thematically covers the sin of greed. Serving up a masterclass in experimental modern jazz, the track threads a sensational fabric of shifting rhythms and spirited lead instrumental flourishes, capturing a delightful improvised feel. “Clickbait Merchants” opens with an urgent rhythm before gliding into a free-flowing jazz odyssey lifted by enchanting lead saxophone work and driven by a stellar drum performance by Rudd.

The album closes with “Antifragile,” a stripped back song of sombre tone and lulling energy. Guided in by the hushed, deep tones of the saxophones over the ominous rumble of bass string notes, the song shifts with the bright piano work and deft taps of drums to craft a mesmeric and inspiring finale to the epic journey the record delivers.

Listen to Ambrosia below