Henry Spencer is an award-winning trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator. He grew up on a Wiltshire working farm and became London-based via studying at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and performing/collaborating on the London jazz scene. With Grammy Award winning Dave Darlington in New York (whose credits include Miles Davis, Prince, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson) Spencer released his album, ‘The Reasons Don’t Change’ (Whirlwind Recordings), receiving critical acclaim across Europe. InMusic (DE) awarded 5/5 stars saying, “Spencer is one of the great talents of the British jazz scene drawing a high level of recognition. Listen to Spencer's genius”, and All About Jazz said, “Contender for Album of the Year”.  

Since then, his growing international touring schedule, radio and TV broadcasts, including Mezzo TV and major festivals, have led to the increase of audiences internationally. 

Henry is currently working on his new album, collaborating with two Platinum-selling producers, who have worked with artists such as John Lenon, Kate Bush, Richard Ashcroft and a composer for London Symphony Orchestra. 

Henry Spencer's music touches jazz, rock and minimalism and is sometimes cinematic. The music’s “astonishing dynamic variety” (Manchester Jazz Festival) combines highly intense, raw energy and evocative outlets, with moments of intimate, heart-felt, emotionally-led, lyrical melodies - almost as if there were actually words being sung.  

Henry’s unusual and personal approach to writing and performing gives the music its rare and impactful strength; emotionally drawing in as well as exhilarating the listener. Henry is driven to write and perform to deal with personal experience (much like a singer songwriter, see below), but he also considers the listener, engaging them so they relate it to their own experience. 

‘I’ve always been most interested in music that’s driven by sincere emotional intent and deals with genuine experience. I want to draw in the listener so they engage with the music, relating it to their personal experience - with as much emotive clarity as if the music had lyrics. It’s an outlet, a release…I often use lyrics as part of the writing process.’ 

Henry performs for a range of ensembles, jazz, pop/rock bands and recording sessions, such as George Porter Jr (The Meters), Crowd Company, The Manor, The Hara, The London Salsa All Stars, London City Big Band and London Jazz Orchestra. He also teaches and leads workshops. 

"Henry Spencer's music has a unique focus and quality rarely experienced. Originals with real meaning"
- Paul Pace, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club 
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Born in Wiltshire, Henry started playing the piano at a very young age and later the trumpet at the age of ten. In 2006 he was awarded a DfES scholarship as a Specialist Musician at Wells Cathedral School. In 2008, he successfully auditioned winning a place on the four-year jazz course (BMus Hons) at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Having moved to London in 2008, Henry immediately began working outside and independently of college as a freelance/jazz musician in a vast range of ensembles and projects, alongside being a student at the conservatoire. He studied and was involved in masterclasses with musicians such as Dave Liebman, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Joshua Redman and Christian McBride. Nick Smart, Robbie Robson, Trevor Tomkins, Scott Stroman, Martin Hathaway, Carlos Lopez-real, Malcolm Edmonstone, Noel Langley and Gerard Presencer.