Jazz: Henrik Jensen Trio

We’re pleased to welcome back Henrik and his trio, who last visited in April 2023 with a fantastic set of Henrik’s original compositions. The band are touring again to promote their new album, which is being released this week on the Babel label. A constellation of three remarkable musicians with a strong focus on interplay, the trio blurs the lines between the composed and improvised material. An open sound that allows for a lyrical approach but also appreciates the high energy of rhythmic complexity in both swing and groove.

Bassist Henrik Jensen moved from Denmark to London in 1997 and is a graduate of the Royal Academy. He has toured the world from Tokyo to Moscow with various modern jazz projects and also as part of the band for close harmony group The Puppini Sisters. Henrik has previously appeared at the club as band leader with his quartet Followed By Thirteen.

Pianist Esben Tjalve is from Denmark, and leads his sextet Red Kite, which released their album Theory Of Colours in 2019 with an all-star cast including Jasper Hoiby of Phronesis.  He has composed and recorded music for Universal, Warner Bros., BBC4, BBC Radio Drama, BBC Cbeebies, theatre productions as well as the nominated film animation “Marriage of the Thames and the Rhine” and the highly acclaimed radio drama series called  “The Great Scott” featuring David Tennant.

Dave Smith is becoming one of the UK’s best known drummers through his work with Robert Plant. As co-leader of Outhouse Ruhabi and Fofoulah, he is the man behind the most fruitful collision of West African drum music and European jazz yet to surface.