Trumpeter Henry Lowther awarded Musicians' Company Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024
Friday, February 14, 2025
The highly acclaimed trumpeter has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to British and international jazz
Henry Lowther, a veteran of the UK jazz scene has enjoyed a rich and varied career that has included playing with many of the world’s finest musicians, and he is without question one of the most highly respected musicians working today.
Born in Leicester, Henry’s first musical experiences included playing in a Salvation Army band. Studies at the Royal Academy followed, with Henry having originally been accepted there as a violinist. In 2011 the Academy honoured him with a Fellowship.
Henry burst onto the UK’s jazz scene in the ‘60s as a member of the seminal Mike Westbrook Band and John Dankworth Orchestra, and he appeared in 1969’s famous Woodstock festival. He was one of the first UK jazz musicians to experiment with total free improvisation.
Henry’s collaborative work reads like a Who’s Who, with an equally respected profile as a classical performer. He is featured on countless award-winning recordings, performing with a staggeringly diverse collective of distinguished artists including Graham Collier, John Dankworth, Mike Gibbs, Gil Evans, Stan Tracey, Kenny Wheeler, David Essex, Elton John, and Musicians' Company Court Assistant John Harle, to name but a few.
His sheer musical breadth has also seen him work with most of the major UK orchestras, and he is featured on numerous film and TV soundtracks.
Later work has seen major commissions for Henry as a composer, including from the BBC, work with his band Still Waters, and a typically busy diary of performing engagements. He also made an appearance in 2023’s London Jazz Festival in a celebration of Bebop with fellow Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Stan Sulzmann. Henry also finds time to teach on the jazz programmes at Richmond and Hillcroft College.
For more info on the Musicians' Company visit wcom.org.uk
