Ashley Henry
“Freestyle Fellowship”
This was the first ever UK Jazz gig after 5 months of lockdown (And right before we were about to go back into lockdown again), so it only felt right to do a completely improvised set infant of a live audience. I guess at the time more than ever, people are relying on music to help them get through the difficult situations they’re going through - and on the musician side of things, we’ve had the time and space to think about and reason with why were doing this in the first place and having to fight for it for survival.
It was exciting to me to hear those things all reflected through sound, especially with some of the best jazz musicians on the scene doing it together in one space… And to mark such a monumental time in history!
The gig also took place on the day that Notting Hill Carnival was supposed to take place, which is an annual celebration of black British culture which happens all over the streets of west London since 1966 - but was cancelled for the first time ever for obvious reasons. So this was my way of keeping black British culture alive and celebrated, and the music definitely reflects that - as well as the musicians that are all linearly connected to that cultural space. This is also a lineup that has never played together as a band before:
Myele Manzanza - Drums
David Mrakpor - Bass
Ashley Henry - Keys
Shabaka Hutchins -Tenor Sax
Binker Golding - Tenor Sax