Greg Ruby began playing swing and early jazz music while leading the bohemian life of a busker in the 1990’s. As part of Django Reinhardt renaissance of the early 2000’s, Greg formed the seminal group Hot Club Sandwich and later joined Pearl Django in 2002. He continues to lead his own groups including the Greg Ruby Quartet, Greg Ruby & the Rhythm Runners and the Greg Ruby Six!
"Beach 93rd is my closest surf break. It is never the same. I wouldn't want it to be."
Track from his EP: Experiments in Surf Music, released May 4, 2021
about: "I moved to New York City in November of 2019. Months later, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and with it, the world turned upside down. Fleeing the urban center of New York, I took the A train south to Rockaway Beach and fell in love - with its urban beaches, quirky community and took up an unlikely hobby at the age of 46 - surfing. Amidst uncertain times, I found peace in the water. As I became more entranced by the ocean and its rhythms, I also started listening to its soundtrack: instrumental surf guitar music. Many claim the roots of surf music spawned from the 1954 jazz guitar composition “Walk Don’t Run,” It seemed like a logical conclusion that as a jazz guitarist and composer, I was perfectly suited to create in this genre. Now living in Rockaway full-time, these two songs are the beginning of a longer collection of music that will be part reflection of my life during the pandemic and part love note to my new home of Rockaway Beach, NY: “Lockdown in Paradise.” "
Recorded remotely in apartments, office buildings and garages early in 2021
Greg Ruby - compositions and electric guitars Jonathan Doyle - tenor saxophone and contra-alto clarinet Abe Pollack - electric bass Jesse Shultzaberger - drums
Greg Ruby - surf rock from New York, New York
ReplyDeleteGreg Ruby began playing swing and early jazz music while leading the bohemian life of a busker in the 1990’s. As part of Django Reinhardt renaissance of the early 2000’s, Greg formed the seminal group Hot Club Sandwich and later joined Pearl Django in 2002. He continues to lead his own groups including the Greg Ruby Quartet, Greg Ruby & the Rhythm Runners and the Greg Ruby Six!
"Beach 93rd is my closest surf break. It is never the same. I wouldn't want it to be."
Track from his EP: Experiments in Surf Music, released May 4, 2021
about:
"I moved to New York City in November of 2019. Months later, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and with it, the world turned upside down. Fleeing the urban center of New York, I took the A train south to Rockaway Beach and fell in love - with its urban beaches, quirky community and took up an unlikely hobby at the age of 46 - surfing. Amidst uncertain times, I found peace in the water. As I became more entranced by the ocean and its rhythms, I also started listening to its soundtrack: instrumental surf guitar music. Many claim the roots of surf music spawned from the 1954 jazz guitar composition “Walk Don’t Run,” It seemed like a logical conclusion that as a jazz guitarist and composer, I was perfectly suited to create in this genre. Now living in Rockaway full-time, these two songs are the beginning of a longer collection of music that will be part reflection of my life during the pandemic and part love note to my new home of Rockaway Beach, NY: “Lockdown in Paradise.” "
Recorded remotely in apartments, office buildings and garages early in 2021
Greg Ruby - compositions and electric guitars
Jonathan Doyle - tenor saxophone and contra-alto clarinet
Abe Pollack - electric bass
Jesse Shultzaberger - drums
Mixed by Adam Burd