The Defector from The Defector by Henry Spencer

Henry Spencer composed this track, and the 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.

“I’m unable to fully relate to, or describe, these defectors’ suffering and bravery in the face of extreme danger, but I’m inspired by, and have a deep admiration for their moral courage, strength and determination to improve their situation and help others around them.

As much as I fail, I think it’s worthwhile and honourable to emulate, even slightly, these qualities in our own ordinary lives.”

“I’m 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 own personal experience - with as much emotive clarity as if the music had lyrics. It’s an outlet, a release.”

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, Jon Kelly and Paul Whalley (credits include Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, John Lennon) and Scottish composer George Stevenson (commissioned by London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Psappha Ensemble among others).

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.

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Tracklist

1.	The Defector	5:39

Credits

from The Defector, track released September 29, 2023
Instrumentation:
Henry Spencer (trumpet, flugel, composition & string arrangement)
Ant Law (guitar)
Matt Robinson (piano, Fender Rhodes)
Andrew Robb (bass)
David Ingamells (drums)

John Garner (violin)
Marie Schreer (violin)
Lydia Abell (viola)
Colin Alexander (cello)

Composition by Henry Spencer
Produced by Henry Spencer and Paul Whalley
Mixed by Jon Kelly
Mastered by Nick Watson at Fluid Mastering

Recorded at
Hoxa HQ, London, UK
Recording engineer: Dani Bennett Spragg
Tileyard Studios, London, UK
Recording engineers: Jon Kelly and Paul Whalley

Cover photo by Carl Ulrich Russ-Mohl of Muphovi

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