Henry Spencer - The Reasons Don't Change

Trumpet player and composer Henry Spencer is an up-and-coming name on the British scene. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he formed his quintet Juncture and crafted this debut album specifically with his fellow alumni in mind.

So the combined forces of Nick Costley-White (guitar), Matt Robinson (piano, keyboards), Andrew Robb (double bass) and David Ingamells (drums) intuitively interpret Spencer's original work with a fervor to match his penetrating technique; and the inclusion of The Guastalla Quartet's string sustenance brings another, integrated layer of richness.

Across these ten tracks, an often blistering, flutter-tongued incisiveness is balanced with the serene depth of flugel, while his occasionally plaintive, bucolic solo personality - heard at the beginning of 'Joanne's Diary' - is able to neatly segue into the fluctuating vistas that this band skilfully interprets. From the first few bars of 'Hopeless Heartless' emanates the lush warmth of The Guastalla Quartet, creating a wider soundscape reminiscent of orchestral jazz, and rocky closer 'The Survivor and The Descendant' consolidates the dynamic strength of this entire nine-piece as swirling, forte strings whip up a maelstrom of white-hot guitar and trumpet.

Personnel: Henry Spencer (trumpet, flugelhorn), Nick Costley-White (guitar), Matt Robinson (piano, Fender rhodes, Wurlitzer), Andrew Robb (double bass), David Ingamells (drums), The Guastalla Quartet