If you had told me even 24 hours ago that I would be raving about a love letter to Tottenham Hotspur legend Ledley King from a Bristol-based, London-rooted jazz duo named after their football hero, I would have given you a quizzical look.
Yet, here I am. One of the hundreds of music-related mailshots that I receive every week led me to Ledley aka saxophonist Chris Williams and trombonist Raph Clarkson, whose shared experience of Spurs season tickets and, according to the Times in 2009, "Tottenham's 25th best player of all time" inspired their self-titled album.
Chris and Raph are joined by bassist, arranger and composer Riaan Vosloo, who is credited with co-writes, recording, post-production and 'electronics'.
The album's been a while coming: recorded in the basement of Cafe Kino in Bristol on 7th October 2022; mixed at J&J Studio, also in Bristol, on 8th August 2023; released on vinyl and digital on 4th April 2025.
Based on the four 'songs' and three 'videos' made available on Bandcamp and YouTube respectively, Ledley the album promises to be an intriguing, immersive experience.
Ledley the band are playing live at the Cube Microplex in Bristol on 8th April. The evening will kick off with "a solo electronic and percussive set of cut and spliced animated video with a playful and abstract, Dadaist and humorous approach" from percussionist and drummer
Chris and Raph will then perform together, before an ensemble finale with Riaan and Tony. All for a tenner.
Until I left Bristol in the late 2000s, I used to go to the Cube loads. Back then, it was a humble cinema offering some cult classics, past and present, with occasional nights offering some live musical accompaniment and was always a gem of the city (off) centre. These days the Cube is described as an "arts venue, independent museum, and progressive social wellbeing enterprise".
The 'microplex' appellation was a nod and a thumbed nose to the multiplexes that were cropping up on the outskirts and subsequently in the heart of the Cabot Circus shopping centre. It says something about Bristol's maverick and creative spirit that whilst the latter multiplex is now long gone, the Cube Microplex endures.
Sadly, I'm going to have to give Ledley a miss this time, as I'm going to another gig the following night in Bath and these days I just can't squeeze in two consecutive outings in a working week. Hopefully there will be a 'next time'.
In the meantime, one more for the Bandcamp Friday shopping list.
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