Trumpeter/composer Henry Spencer is a recent conservatoire graduate, but his spectacular technique and strong musical character make him sound like an old hand. His Juncture quintet’s striking debut features some unusual ingredients. One such is the pairing of his trumpet with Nick Costley-White’s electric guitar as the dominant texture, a rhythmic approach that often lets his blistering, long-tone brass power soar over Mehldau-like piano ostinatos and busy drum grooves. There is also an unjazzily songlike directness in the themes. Spencer’s remarkable trumpet prowess is plain from the album’s solo intro of wriggling runs, squeezed-valve slurs, dolorous swerves and gleaming sustained tones. The set progresses through hard-rocking drama (the excellent David Ingamells is on drums); brooding, Spanish-tinged themes with emerging snare-tattoos beautifully sketched slow trumpet meditations shadowed by subtle guitar chordwork; dreamy classic-ballad reflectiveness and brightly serpentine melodies cushioned by the strings of the Guastalla Quartet. Some of the grand, fanfare-like gestures go on a bit, but Spencer’s is a very promising arrival.
