HENRY SPENCER - The Reasons Don’t Change
Whirlwind WR4698
Henry Spencer- trumpet & flugelhorn; Nick Costley-White - guitar; Matt Robinson - piano, keyboards; Andrew Robb - double bass; David Ingamells - drums
Strings by the Gustella Quartet
Guildhall graduate Spencer is a highly personable young man, well able to live up to a star billing, and his background as a singer songwriter may have informed his approach to this carefully conceived and presented album. This is not to detract in any way from his genuine jazz credentials - he’s a highly accomplished trumpeter with a bright clear tone and an impressive control, as well as a thoughtful and varied composer. His statement in the liner notes makes it clear that he’s interested in reaching out to his audience via music that’s simultaneously accessible to the listener and sincerely meaningful to the performer. In practice this means a kind of jazz-rock blend of the kind associated with fellow trumpeter Christian Scott - acoustic piano and bass keep the sound warm and grounded, while Spencer plays soaring melodies over static but uplifting chord progressions. The mood is one of what you might call introspective euphoria, though outstanding contributions from powerhouse drummer Ingamells stop proceedings from descending into blandness.
It’s a type of fusion that reaches back through Scott and ultimately owes it’s concept and it’s emotional atmosphere to the Pat Metheny bands of the 1980s - a comparison that’s underlined when guitarist Costley-White shows off his clean tone and impressive chops on ‘Knock Back, Knocked Forward’ - a typical example of Spencer’s writing, which builds over a succession of ascending chords to a clarion-call climax over boiling drums. Careful production by Spencer and Paul Whalley and a great job from US-based superstar mix engineer ensure that the sound is sufficiently epic and detailed to carry the music’s ambition. “Never Draw A Line” shows that Spencer can create spacious Kenny Wheeler type melodies over sophisticated harmony when called upon, and also gives bassist Robb a brief and well-deserved moment in the spotlight. Matt Robinson mostly sticks to piano for his solos and really shines on ‘Hindsight Can’t Wait’.
The strings are reserved for the final two tracks - ‘Hopeless Heartless’ is closer to a straight jazz waltz, beautifully arranged and played, though the overall effect is pleasant rather than soul-stirring, and ‘The Survivor And The Descendant’ brings together all nine musicians for an epic, rocking finale that would sit alongside a Snarky Puppy track on your playlist. It’s a powerful statement of intent from a young musician determined to be noticed, and should get him the attention he deserves.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
Whirlwind WR4698
Henry Spencer- trumpet & flugelhorn; Nick Costley-White - guitar; Matt Robinson - piano, keyboards; Andrew Robb - double bass; David Ingamells - drums
Strings by the Gustella Quartet
Guildhall graduate Spencer is a highly personable young man, well able to live up to a star billing, and his background as a singer songwriter may have informed his approach to this carefully conceived and presented album. This is not to detract in any way from his genuine jazz credentials - he’s a highly accomplished trumpeter with a bright clear tone and an impressive control, as well as a thoughtful and varied composer. His statement in the liner notes makes it clear that he’s interested in reaching out to his audience via music that’s simultaneously accessible to the listener and sincerely meaningful to the performer. In practice this means a kind of jazz-rock blend of the kind associated with fellow trumpeter Christian Scott - acoustic piano and bass keep the sound warm and grounded, while Spencer plays soaring melodies over static but uplifting chord progressions. The mood is one of what you might call introspective euphoria, though outstanding contributions from powerhouse drummer Ingamells stop proceedings from descending into blandness.
It’s a type of fusion that reaches back through Scott and ultimately owes it’s concept and it’s emotional atmosphere to the Pat Metheny bands of the 1980s - a comparison that’s underlined when guitarist Costley-White shows off his clean tone and impressive chops on ‘Knock Back, Knocked Forward’ - a typical example of Spencer’s writing, which builds over a succession of ascending chords to a clarion-call climax over boiling drums. Careful production by Spencer and Paul Whalley and a great job from US-based superstar mix engineer ensure that the sound is sufficiently epic and detailed to carry the music’s ambition. “Never Draw A Line” shows that Spencer can create spacious Kenny Wheeler type melodies over sophisticated harmony when called upon, and also gives bassist Robb a brief and well-deserved moment in the spotlight. Matt Robinson mostly sticks to piano for his solos and really shines on ‘Hindsight Can’t Wait’.
The strings are reserved for the final two tracks - ‘Hopeless Heartless’ is closer to a straight jazz waltz, beautifully arranged and played, though the overall effect is pleasant rather than soul-stirring, and ‘The Survivor And The Descendant’ brings together all nine musicians for an epic, rocking finale that would sit alongside a Snarky Puppy track on your playlist. It’s a powerful statement of intent from a young musician determined to be noticed, and should get him the attention he deserves.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
