Henry Spencer: ‘The Defector’

I bumped into trumpeter Henry Spencer while travelling to jazzahead! a few weeks ago and now I’ve had the chance to listen to his 2023 album ‘The Defector’.

Although this music has been out for a couple of years, it’s an exciting album from this award-winning trumpeter and flugelhorn player. The Defector features all original compositions that Spencer has developed with his impressive band: Ant Law (guitar), Matt Robinson (piano, Fender Rhodes), Andrew Robb (bass) and David Ingamells (drums). They’re joined by a string quartet on a number of tracks: John Garner (violin), Marie Schreer (violin), Lydia Abell (viola) and Colin Alexander (cello).

Starting with the title track, this album combines the skills of the quintet, with trumpet and flugel soaring above and sometimes intertwining melodically with guitar or Rhodes. Rhythmically, this is an exciting track with which to start the album, promising much for the ensuing tunes.

Slowing down neither tempo nor intensity, Perfect Hindrance once more features the whole quintet before the beautiful rhythmic opening of Undone and the softly lyrical Moment Gained. Across The Defector, Spencer’s trumpet (and flugel) weave alongside and within guitar and keyboard lines  Moment Gained, in particular, allows the ensemble to speak individually and collectively.

The strings on the brief Introduction to Without a Voice lend a beautifully classical interlude before Spencer’s trumpet line brings us into the huge and cinematic Without a Voice itself. There’s a lovely piano solo here from Robinson and the strings really come into their own. Here (for Chicca) brings a lovely melodic and rhythmic interplay between the trumpet and piano lines before an engaging Ant Law guitar solo.

More strings on Overlap as Spencer casts his classical chops wide and his trumpet moves into solo mode above the quartet. Musicians and producer play with your ears - you definitely need headphones on to get the full effect of this tune.

As we come to the end of The Defector, there’s more lovely guitar/trumpet interplay on Not My Country. The groove that eventually comes to life in this brings a perfect, positive end to this engaging album.

Check out Henry’s touring plans and ‘The Defector’