Henry Spencer - The Defector (2023) Hi Res

The trumpeter, composer and bandleader Henry Spencer releases his latest album following his band's growing international touring schedule, radio and TV broadcasts, the increase of audiences and followers internationally and having worked with multi-GRAMMY Award-winning Dave Darlington in New York (credits include Miles Davis, Prince, Herbie Hancock) for his previous album. For this record, Henry Spencer collaborated with two platinum selling producers (credits include Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, John Lennon) and a composer for the London Symphony Orchestra.

Touching jazz, rock and minimalism, the music's "astonishing dynamic variety" (Manchester Jazz Festival) combines Henry's "spectacular technique" (The Guardian), intense, raw energy and evocative outlets, with moments of intimate, heart-felt, emotionally-led, lyrical melodies - almost as if there were words being sung.

Henry Spencer composed this album inspired by defectors; whether it's the soldier deserter from an army committing war crimes, or the partner that leaves their abusive relationship for a freer life, the politician who actively challenges and leaves their party, or the North Korean dissident that chooses the life-threatening endangerment of attempting to escape, crossing the border into a completely unknown world, rather than stay living with dictatorship and oppression.