The Antidote Matt Ridley

• 1 Thalo Blue (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 08:38
• 2 The Minotaur (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 08:22
• 3 Ebb and Flow (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 08:11
• 4 Yardeville (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 07:35
• 5 Infant Eyes (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 02:52
• 6 Suite, Pt. 1, Gautoma (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 05:10
• 7 Suite, Pt. 2, Stranger Things (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 05:24
• 8 Suite, Pt. 3, Adagio for the Fallen Stars (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 04:40
• 9 Suite, Pt. 4, Finale (feat. Alex Hitchcock, Ant Law, Tom Hewson & Marc Michel) 07:27
• Total Runtime 58:19

Info for The Antidote

Brainchild of bassist and composer Matt Ridley, 'The Antidote' is a new and exciting quintet, bristling with young talent. Their eponymous album was recorded in October 2019, (yes, the name 'The Antidote' precedes the current Coronavirus crisis) where 12 tracks were cut over 3 days. Released on 23rd July 2021, 'The Antidote' combines and develops Matt's expansive cross-generational experience into a deeply accomplished album, his third as composer/bandleader.

In this new music, Ridley draws upon a wide variety of influences; 'thinking man's' rock, contemporary jazz, simple, memorable folk melodies, and the detail, sensitivity, and emotional depth of Classical music. The result is 'The Antidote', remarkable for its depth, integrity, and refreshing insistence on strong melodic and thematic material.

Matt Ridley began his musical journey on piano, aged six. By his mid-teens, he gravitated towards bass guitar, and was gigging professionally at 19 years old. In 2001, he enrolled at Trinity College of Music, and it was there that he began learning the double bass. Matt performed his final recital entirely on this instrument and, upon graduating with a Bmus honours degree in Jazz Studies, he was awarded the Trinity College of Music 'Friends in New York' award. Matt has also made a comprehensive study of classical music under the tutelage of LSO bassist Jani Pensola and, in 2017, Matt won a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music diploma in classical double bass.

A true devotee of his instrument, discernible influences on Matt's playing span the last 60+ years of jazz history to include Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Scott Lafaro, Miroslav Vitous, as well as more modern players such as Christian McBride and Larry Grenadier. As well as being exceptionally studied, Matt’s outlook is also forward looking and individual. His own music represents a unique melange of contemporary jazz, classical music and world music.

Based in London, Matt has performed internationally and at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues such as the Purcell Room, Cadogan Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, King’s Place, the Barbican and the O2 Arena.

As a band leader, Matt released his debut album, Thymos, on Whirlwind Recordings in 2013, featuring the talents of award-winning pianist John Turville, drummer George Hart, and guest appearances from saxophonist Jason Yarde, oud maestro Attab Haddad and percussionist Vasilis Sirikis. Matt’s follow-up album, Mettā, was released in February 2016. Jason Yarde having joined the original trio as a permanent member, the entire quartet recording was completed in one day, a testament to the empathy and communication between the musicians.

Matt is an in-demand sideman, known equally for his work with younger musicians on the contemporary jazz scene, and with older, more established names. He has worked extensively with guitarist Ant Law in his quintet and 'Art of Rhythm' trio with drummer Asaf Sirkis, and with Darius Brubeck (son of Dave Brubeck) in a quartet featuring Dave O’Higgins on saxophone. Matt was bass player in Michael Garrick's many ensembles, and continued his 'MJQ Celebration' band featuring Jim Hart, Barry Green and Steve Brown after his death in 2011. ¬¬In a more ad hoc capacity, Matt has performed at home and abroad with the best of the UK jazz scene, and with artists from the US, Europe and Africa.

Matt’s upcoming release, 'The Antidote', is a new and exciting quintet album, bristling with young talent. Their eponymous album was recorded in October 2019, (yes, the name 'The Antidote' precedes the current Coronavirus crisis) where 12 tracks were shaped over a three-day period.

Matt describes his inspiration for the music: "I spent a long time reflecting on musical culture in the UK, and my own identity and relationship with all of the different music that I have encountered over 15+ years of being a professional bassist. When it came down to it, I concluded that what the English do really well, is ROCK, FOLK, and CLASSICAL music. I realised that, deep down, I've always wanted to ROCK OUT, to be wild and free, to fly unhindered and answerable to no-one. So I set out creating my own music, that would combine 'thinking man's' Rock music (Radiohead/Beatles...without the posturing and banal dumbing-down which is inevitable in more commercial pop music), with Jazz improvisation (without falling foul of pretentious self-indulgence), simple, memorable, Folky melodies, and the detail, sensitivity, and emotional depth of Classical music."

The result is 'The Antidote', remarkable for its depth, integrity, and refreshing insistence on strong melodic and thematic material.

Matt continues: “I am tremendously excited to finally be releasing this latest chapter of my music. To do so, I formed my dream band, made up of truly amazing musicians who really understand what I'm trying to achieve. Alex Hitchcock is a rising star saxophonist who brings great energy with his soloing but also really plays with his heart. Ant Law has been a close musical ally for years. In addition to extremely burning solos, he brings a huge palette of sounds and symphonic textures. Tom Hewson, similarly burning, brings great imaginative flair and, unusually for a jazz pianist, really understands and loves the rockier elements of the music. Marc Michel provides all levels of accompaniment, ranging from combative hi-octane interaction, real commitment to groove, and sensitive brush work at the other end of the spectrum."

Matt Ridley, double bass
Alex Hitchcock, saxophones
Ant Law, guitar
Tom Hewson, piano
Marc Michel, drums

Matt Ridley
began his musical journey on piano aged 6. By his mid teens he had gravitated towards bass guitar, and was gigging professionally at age 19. In 2001 he enrolled at Trinity College of Music, and it was there that he began learning the double bass. He performed his final recital entirely on this instrument, and upon graduating with a Bmus honours degree in Jazz Studies, he was awarded the Trinity College of Music 'Friends in New York' award. Since graduating, he has also made a comprehensive study of classical music under the tutelage of LSO bassist Jani Pensola, and in 2017 won a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music diploma in classical double bass. ​

A true devotee of his instrument, discernible influences on his playing span the last 70+ years of jazz history, to include Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Scott Lafaro and Miroslav Vitous, as well as more modern players such as Christian McBride and Larry Grenadier. Based in London, he has performed internationally and at many of the UK's most prestigious venues such as the Purcell Room, Cadogan Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, King’s Place, the Barbican, and the O2 Arena. ​

As a band leader, Matt released his debut album ‘Thymos’ on Whirlwind Recordings in 2013. Featuring the talents of award-winning pianist John Turville, drummer George Hart, and guest appearances from saxophonist Jason Yarde, oud maestro Attab Haddad and percussionist Vasilis Sirikis, the album represents a substantial artistic statement of both compositional and improvisational chutzpah. Matt's follow-up album, 'Mettā', was released in February 2016. Building on the melodic, rhythmically inventive style of 'Thymos', and with Jason Yarde now a core member of the group, the album received 4-star reviews across the board. The quartet performed at jazz clubs and festivals across the UK and were hailed as 'One of Britain's very finest contemporary quartets' (Jazzviews). ​

In 2019, Matt formed a new band, 'The Antidote', a quintet featuring Alex Hitchcock (sax), Ant Law (guitar), Tom Hewson (piano) and Marc Michel (drums). Their eponymous album is due for release on 23rd July 2021. ​

From 2011-2016, Matt also led the 'MJQ Celebration'. A band 'inherited' from the late Michael Garrick MBE, the band featured award winning vibraphonist Jim Hart, pianist Barry Green, and Steve Brown on drums. The group performed around the UK and released an eponymous CD in April 2014 (produced by Ridley), which received glowing reviews and was described by the London Jazz Blog as ‘an enormously entertaining project, already leaping on top of an early 'best of 2014' pile'. ​

Matt is an in-demand sideman, known equally for his work with younger musicians on the contemporary jazz scene, and with older, more established names. Since 2006 he has played with Darius Brubeck (eldest son of Dave Brubeck) in a quartet featuring Dave O'Higgins on saxophone. He has worked extensively with guitarist Ant Law in his quintet and 'Art of Rhythm' trio with drummer Asaf Sirkis, and with a wide range of musicians at the vanguard of their movement including Tim Garland, Nikki Iles, Don Weller, Jim Hart, Jason Yarde, Michael Garrick and Kit Downes. More recently he has collaborated with artists on the international scene such as Mulatu Astatke, and Trinidadian steel pan phenomenon Leon Foster Thomas. ​

Matt is actively involved in education and has led workshops and masterclasses at conservatoire level, taught on residential jazz courses, and on Sound and Music's 'Young Composers' Summer school. He is 'Jazz Specialist' at the Brentwood School, where he teaches improvisation, musicianship, and directs the Junior and Senior jazz groups. He offers private tuition from his teaching studio and via Zoom, and welcomes tuition inquiries from students of all instruments, levels and abilities.

This album contains no booklet.