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Henry Spencer

Henry Spencer is an award-winning London based trumpeter, bandleader (Henry Spencer and Juncture) and composer. Since moving to London in 2008, Henry enjoys frequently performing in ensembles and featuring as a soloist in jazz groups, big bands, pop bands, salsa bands, for recording sessions and often for shows in theatres in and around London. He has been fortunate enough to perform with many great ensembles and musicians, just a few of these include Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Stan Sulzmann, Bobby Wellins, Marvin Stamm and Henry Lowther.

As well as frequently performing in a range of bands and ensembles Henry leads and composes original material for his band, Henry Spencer and Juncture (previously called the Juncture Quintet).

Henry Spencer and Juncture (previously known as the Juncture Quintet) is an exciting and original quintet led by Henry Spencer. The band's first public performance and debut at the Marlborough Jazz Festival resulted in the winnning of the Best Newcomer Award. Henry Spencer and Juncture performs original compositions that take on influences from a vast range of genres such as jazz, rock and minimalism. The compositions are written by Henry Spencer.

The five exceptional musicians in the band met while studying on London's prestigious jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a result there is a high level of musical understanding and interaction between the musicians. Having said this, in performance the emphasis is very much on using their facility to promote emotional and creative expression rather than merely displaying technical or academic accomplishment.

In 2008 Henry successfully auditioned for a place on the prestigious four-year jazz performance course (BMus Hons.) at the Guildhall of Music and Drama (London). He has since studied and been involved in masterclasses with such musicians as Dave Liebman, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Joshua Redman, Phil Markowitz and Christian McBride. He also has been tutored by musicians such as Nick Smart, Robbie Robson, Trevor Tomkins, Andrew Bain, Scott Stroman, Martin Hathaway, Carlos Lopez-real, Malcolm Edmonstone, Noel Langley and Gerard Presencer.

In 2006 Henry was awarded a scholarship as a specialist musician at Wells Cathedral School. Here he enjoyed education at one of the UK's few Specialist Music Schools. Henry studied music in depth (theory, history, composition, arrangement and music technology) and specialised in trumpet playing (both jazz and classical).

"the most exciting band...Experimental, modern and minimalist but engaging and listenable too, these were serious artists who were refreshing and absorbed in their music-making. Definitely one of the highlights...Watch this space!" - missgivans.co.uk (Review of Henry Spencer and Juncture performance at the Marlborough Jazz Festival)

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10
Album Review

Henry Spencer: The Defector

Read "The Defector" reviewed by Neil Duggan


In 2011, trumpeter Henry Spencer won the Best Newcomer Award at the jazz festival in the Wiltshire town of Marlborough; he went on to win the Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK in 2014. Sometimes these awards add extra pressure or, as is the case here, propel the musician to new heights. He climbs very close to the summit here with The Defector. The nine compositions on the album were inspired by those who defect -soldiers, politicians or partners ...

6
Album Review

Henry Spencer and Juncture: The Reasons Don't Change

Read "The Reasons Don't Change" reviewed by Roger Farbey


The cover art is a clue to the music contained in this excellent album. It depicts a vista split in two, one half a deserted bucolic scene and the other a populated urban street. In the midst stands trumpeter and progenitor of this work, Henry Spencer, a graduate of the UK's prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The bifurcated opening track is introduced by a restrained fifty second trumpet solo, building-up to a sustained B flat note ...

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"the most exciting band...Experimental, modern and minimalist but engaging and listenable too, these were serious artists who were refreshing and absorbed in their music-making. Definitely one of the highlights...Watch this space!" - missgivans.co.uk (Review of Henry Spencer and Juncture performance at the Marlborough Jazz Festival)

"played with touching reverence...To trumpeter Henry Spencer... remember their names. They are the future." - Jack Massarik, Evening Standard (Review of Henry Spencer at the London Jazz Festival)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Defector

AMP Music & Records
2023

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The Reasons Don't...

Whirlwind Recordings
2017

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