Ashley Henry’s critically acclaimed album, Beautiful Vinyl Hunter, was released in 2020. It was Jazz Japan’s Album of the Year, nominated as a BBC 6 Music’s Album of the Year, becoming only the second jazz album ever to do so. He was named France Jazz Magazine’s New Jazz Artist of the Year for 2020, and toured globally with Christine and the Queens, whilst supporting Loyle Carner’s second album tour.
Ashley Henry’s take on sound reflects his London upbringing and his Caribbean roots. His genre-bending sound and collaborative practice draws from classical training and being a diligent student of the Black radical tradition, its futurism and history, pulse, restlessness, and poise. His music is as informed by the work of James Baldwin, and Angela Davis, as it is by Ahmed Jamal, George Benson, Geri Allen and Aretha Franklin.
His deep sonic compositions have launched some of the best contemporary jazz vocalists in the UK. Whilst as a sonic artist his work allowed him to be the first musician commissioned by the Royal Observatory; Curate & establish The Freestyle Fellowship inviting Shabaka Hutchins; Blue Lab Beats and Binker Golding to support the UK’s Mental Health Foundation & Musicians during Covid. Whilst his Ronnie Scott’s Live Stream performance was the most streamed live jazz performance across Europe for 2020. Operating as an Ambassador for the Abram Wilson Foundation, in 2023 Henry established his own label Royal Raw Music via Believe International with the aim of continually pursuing and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and collaboration.
