Their music touches both the heart and the soul. Take one of the most spectacular guitarists in the Caribbean, place him in the same space as one of the strongest drum and bass teams in the region, give them the direction of music luminary, Michael Carvin and you have … British Dependency. Ruel Richardson, a native Caribbean, self-taught and in his early 20s, with an intuitive feel for riddims, an impressive grasp of traditional jazz-guitar phrasing, and great tone. In a chat following his set, he cited influences ranging from Earl Klugh and Lee Ritenour to Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass, but his sensibility best resembled that of Jamaican guitar legend Ernest Ranglin. He’s traveled to the States but hasn’t played there, and has a recording on the way. With jazz’s increasing reputation as a skill set that can only be acquired via slick music schools and pricey private lessons, Richardson’s chops were refreshing.
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