Beautiful vinyl hunter

"Ashley Henry has always sought out different conversations. The ultra-talented pianist is extremely flexible, capable of moving between different worlds, while still maintaining his devoted roots in jazz.New album `Beautiful Vinyl Hunter' epitomises this instinct. It's a record of enormous breadth, one that moves from post-bop to Solange via the Manchester rap scene, while still remaining resolutely a UK jazz artefact".

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"If it has become increasingly hard to add a fresh spin to the jazz-hip-hop hybrid, this classically trained south London Brit School graduate leaves listeners spoiled with possibilities. While Henry's talent for enveloping, riff-based compositions sparkles on compact, song-based turns with singer Judi Jackson (restless neo-soul jam "Star Child") and slam poet Joshua Idehen (skittering Windrush ode "Colors"), instrumentals with trumpeter Theo Croker (blissed-out Rhodes love-in "Introspection"), Binker & Moses (twisting magic carpet ride "Battle") and Chicago beat-scientist Makaya McCraven (tempo-streching "Dark Honey") all evince nuanced skills and lightning-struck harmonics with Herbie Hancock's or Abdullah Ibrahim's dreamy edge. Strident Glasper-like piano-bass-drum deconstructions of Solange's "Cranes (In The Sky)" and The Enemy's lesser-heard "Pressure" further expose the poise and power behind this ambition".

"Impressive ... [On his debut], the 26-year-old Londoner has created an eclectic marinade that blends searing straight ahead jazz with R&B and grime flavours".