HENRY SOUL - A SKETCHHenry Soul was born in Bangkok, Thailand and has played jazz music in one form or another for the best part of 20 years.
Besides some private tuition, his main formation, if you want so, has started in jazz and piano bars in New York and Paris throughout the late 80’s and early 90's. The Village in NY as well as Les Halles and St. Germain in Paris were thriving with talented, international jazz musicians with whom he performed and still performs today when in London or Paris.
His strong forward thinking in music and his joy for modern beats and electronic music meant that he often fuses jazz elements in his own music, on his acid or electro jazz albums, while at the same time remaining completely immersed in the beauty, complexity and open mindedness that jazz has nurtured for over 100 years.
Maybe that’s why it seems only natural that the idea for an acoustic solo album was suggested and encouraged from within the music industry after a performance in Bangkok.
'Just Me & Piano' is a 'live' recording that draws it’s strength from Henry’s background in New York and Paris jazz gigs. It features not only the rawness and excitement of a live performance but also transmits all its sensitivity and emotion in very direct ways to the listener. Energetic and soulful in a straight forward manner, his jazz standards and songs are infused with a fresh outlook that makes 'Just Me & Piano' accessible and enjoyable yet stylish and intimate.
This element becomes especially clear with his rendition of the Beatles' 'Norwegian Wood' and 'She's Leaving Home' that both are unique to his own style by underlining their pop melodies with stylised jazz tones. John Coltrane’s 'Giant Steps' is a challenge he takes great pleasure in, whereas Tom Joabim’s 'How Insensitive' lends him rhythm and space. With his highly syncopated right hand samba style, he’s always counting on the 'up', nailing the 'down tempo' on the left hand while crooning all along the melody in head voice without any percussion – a very skillful performance.
After all, jazz is the music Henry Soul feels most comfortable in and will always come back to. Like he said: “… I will always consider myself a novice because there's no end in learning and playing this music, for it’s beyond me, not me beyond it, period.â€
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OHMYGOD Henry !
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this generous gift, this treasure of beauty and emotion. It brought tears to my eyes and it is absolutely one of my favorite songs. Bless your heart a thousand times! And may your life be filled to the brim with love everlasting.
You play so beautifully, I am gobsmacked!
Can I invite you to Facebook? Great for chatting and keeping in touch.
All my love to you and have a Happy Valentine's Day. I know mine will be great. I'm in love and it's been a long long time since I've felt that way.
Hope to chat soon.
LA
Henry,
you're the very best! What a brilliant gift for two.
I don't know if you remember me or not but we met while you and Monika were visiting LA around this time last year? I had the pleasure of spending some time while working at the Elan Hotel, I'm no longer working there but I'm still living here in Los Angeles and should you and Monika have a return visit please contact me straight away for I would love it if we got together.
Cheers,
Aaron Daniels
thank you Henry! I like your song a lot.
Happy Valentine to you !
ANja
