The members of Rudder leave nothing open to question: those expecting to hear sweet-voiced standards and gentle melodies are advised to look elsewhere. Rudder calls its sound grunge jazz, derived from the music movement of the mid-nineties that emerged with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The New York quartet consists of saxophonist Chris Cheek, keyboard player Henry Hey, bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Keith Carlock, and their live show is dynamic and especially razor-sharp. Cheek and Hey are responsible for the exceptional melody lines that are the hallmark of the group's music. The band enjoys freely improvising on these melodies while remaining subtle. Creativity is the magic word for this innovative group. If you are not afraid of a bit of fusion, don't miss Rudder at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
