Out Now: Raffy Bushman’s New Life: A Homecoming to the Piano Trio, Written in the Wake of Fatherhood

Raffy Bushman has long been one of the UK jazz underground’s most vital voices—an artist whose work consistently proves that tradition isn’t a fixed point, but something you can reshape in real time. From his early piano trio projects, built on the shared language between jazz and hip-hop, to his adventurous classical crossovers with string quintet writing, NuShape Orchestra and Unit 31, Bushman has made a name for himself through re-contextualisation, innovation, and fearless exploration.

Now, in 2026, he’s come full circle—returning to the format where it all began: the piano trio. But this isn’t a rewind. It’s a homecoming with added weight, carrying years of creative expansion and lived experience into a sharper, more personal statement.

That shift is captured in “New Life,” the second single and title track from his forthcoming debut album. Written in response to becoming a father, the piece marks a rare moment of openness—an intentional step beyond the strict stylistic boundaries Bushman often sets for himself. As he explains, “New Life was written to express how I feel about becoming a father. Composing this piece gave me the opportunity to step out of the strict stylistic aesthetic I normally work within and just express myself.”

The album New Life was shaped in the context of a blossoming relationship, followed by the life-altering news that Bushman and his partner were expecting their first child. That emotional arc—anticipation, tenderness, uncertainty, joy—runs through the record’s core. Drawing on years of arranging for ensembles of varying sizes, Bushman channels that broader musical vocabulary back into the trio setting, joined by his trusted rhythm section: Matt Davies on drums and Alec Hewes on double bass. Across seven compositions, New Life distils the signature Raffy Bushman sound into its most focused form—moving between stirring, heartfelt balladry, bopping syncopated grooves, and richly coloured piano flourishes that feel both meticulous and instinctive.