Eddie Henderson, “an uncommon genius” in a Rare, Exceptional and Intimate performance at PizzaExpress Live

TJCUK Team
2 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 14 minutes ago

On November 20th, at PizzaExpress Live in London, Eddie Henderson, the distinguished American trumpeter, will perform with his quartet. For listeners and musicians who have followed his work over the years, it’s a rare opportunity to hear an artist whose career has contributed to shaping jazz across six decades in an intimate setting like no other. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this exceptional artist with his quartet in the uniquely intimate setting of PizzaExpress Live Jazz Club in Soho. These type of occasions are fast disappearing in a world where rapidly changing conditions are making it ever more complicated for international artists and bands to be able to appear in such an ideal setting.

Eddie Henderson

Now 85 years old, Henderson's artistic journey began with an early inspiration from Louis Armstrong, and after studies at the San Francisco Conservatory, he went on to develop his professional career in New York, working with major figures including Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Joe Henderson, and Dexter Gordon.

Henderson gained international recognition in Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band, where his approach to trumpet playing drew attention for its individuality and openness to new sounds. Since the 1970s he has led his own groups, recording albums that range from post-bop to jazz-fusion explorations. His catalogue includes notable releases such as Realization, Heritage, Inside Out, which received the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album, and more recently, Witness to History.

The Quartet

For this concert, Henderson performs with a quartet that has toured together extensively in recent years, building a strong musical rapport:

Eddie Henderson — trumpet

Mātyás Gayer — piano

Arnie Somogyi — bass

Stephen Keogh — drums

Pianist Mātyás Gayer brings a thoughtful, modern touch, recognised internationally as a finalist at the Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition and recipient of Hungary’s Gramofon Award. Arnie Somogyi, one of the UK’s leading bassists, and Stephen Keogh has a long history performing alongside respected jazz artists across Europe and the US.

Marking the Occasion

This performance carries a sense of occasion as Henderson concludes his UK appearances. The evening offers an opportunity to hear a musician with a long and varied career, bringing decades of experience and artistic development to the stage.