‘Who We Are’, the stunning new studio album from UK pianist, composer and vocalist Ashley Henry, is out now on Naïve Records, with a new single featuring gorgeous vocals from the stunning Jackson ‘Life Is Like a Movie’. This is a classy release from one of Britain’s most talented musicians of an exciting new generation.
It’s been a few months since the release of the title track as a single and it was widely well-received. Sitting somewhere alongside that crossover with mainstream pop inhabited by the likes of Ezra Collective and Gregory Porter, Henry is producing deeply moving music: ‘Synchronicity’ still gives me chills, after three plays.
Another striking track is the retelling of ‘Mississippi Goddam’, with Henry’s piano playing a fitting homage to the song’s writer, Nina Simone. It’s no surprise that the inspirational Simone should be honoured by Henry, who brings jazz and cultural influences from around the world right back to London.
You can tell straight away that this is a classy piece of work that shows a neat maturing of Henry’s style, with collaborations from Grammy-nominated artists poet and lyricist Aja Monet and trumpeter Theo Croker, as well as oft-lauded vocalist Judi Jackson and hip hop artist MAK.
‘Fly Away’ features beautiful poetic musing from Aja Monet that soars above Henry’s piano, while ‘Oh La’ brings the steaming sax of another UK jazz giant, Binker Golding. Finishing the album (for those of us who still enjoy starting at the beginning and listening through in the order the artist intended) with ‘Autumn’ featuring the trumpet of Theo Croker is inspired: next single, possibly?
Writing about the launch of this album on an Instagram post, Henry says: “I hope this work brings some moments of joy to those who listen, especially in the midst of these times that we find ourselves in. Each of these songs holds an attempt to understand and strive for liberation or collective possibility, I hope this comes through.”
It does. It absolutely does come through.
Another striking track is the retelling of ‘Mississippi Goddam’, with Henry’s piano playing a fitting homage to the song’s writer, Nina Simone. It’s no surprise that the inspirational Simone should be honoured by Henry, who brings jazz and cultural influences from around the world right back to London.
You can tell straight away that this is a classy piece of work that shows a neat maturing of Henry’s style, with collaborations from Grammy-nominated artists poet and lyricist Aja Monet and trumpeter Theo Croker, as well as oft-lauded vocalist Judi Jackson and hip hop artist MAK.
‘Fly Away’ features beautiful poetic musing from Aja Monet that soars above Henry’s piano, while ‘Oh La’ brings the steaming sax of another UK jazz giant, Binker Golding. Finishing the album (for those of us who still enjoy starting at the beginning and listening through in the order the artist intended) with ‘Autumn’ featuring the trumpet of Theo Croker is inspired: next single, possibly?
Writing about the launch of this album on an Instagram post, Henry says: “I hope this work brings some moments of joy to those who listen, especially in the midst of these times that we find ourselves in. Each of these songs holds an attempt to understand and strive for liberation or collective possibility, I hope this comes through.”
It does. It absolutely does come through.
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