Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
A warm March night, with a special magnetism
(L to R) Rudy Royston, Rudresh Mahanthappa and François Moutin [David Kelly Crow]

Rudresh Mahanthappa
Pizza Express, Soho

AFTER many records expressing the depth and complexity of his own unique musical essence, alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s new eponymous album with his Hero Trio — bassist Francois Moutin and drummer Rudy Royston, he counts it as “an immense pleasure to record music that is not my own.”

At Soho’s Pizza Express he performed a selection of these tunes with astonishing fluidity, breakneck speed and warm empathy with his confreres. Moutin’s deeply twanging artistry and Royston’s command of every percussive surface created a threesome unity of rampaging and moving sound.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
dankworth
Interview / 23 July 2025
23 July 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to vocalist Jacqui Dankworth

moholo
Appreciation / 9 July 2025
9 July 2025

CHRIS SEARLE pays tribute to the late South African percussionist, Louis Moholo-Moholo

CS albums
Album Reviews / 7 July 2025
7 July 2025

Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet

sofia
Interview / 2 July 2025
2 July 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Ethiopian vocalist SOFIA JERNBERG

Similar stories
CS albums
Album Reviews / 7 July 2025
7 July 2025

Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet

themen
Interview / 18 June 2025
18 June 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to saxophonist and retired NHS orthopaedic surgeon ART THEMEN

Culture / 12 December 2024
12 December 2024
CHRIS SEARLE picks his favourites
Music / 30 October 2024
30 October 2024
New releases from Miguel Zenon, Angelica Sanchez/Chad Taylor, Paul Dunmall