Since moving to London, Harry has rapidly established himself as an important new voice on the UK jazz scene. An experienced performer with an impressive list of appearances. Harry has worked with Jean Carne, Tom Seals, Tony Momrelle, Casandra Jenkins and Tomorrow’s New Quartet. He can also be found co-leading Howl Quartet, leading his own band, teaching, writing, and recording music for TV shows including Hypothetical and ITV’s Grantchester.

Harry has found his own way into jazz, taking a different path to many of his peers. Growing up in an army family that travelled around the world before settling in rural Southern England, far from the centres of musical life, his first exposure to music included attending local festivals and listening to his dad’s blues and rock records. His first real exposure to jazz came when British Jazz legend Pat Crumly’s outreach project with the Ronnie Scott’s Legacy Band visited his school. Harry was instantly hooked on the freedom and excitement of improvised music, signing up for lessons with Pat, and a visit to Ronnie Scott’s to see Joshua Redman sealed the deal. Eager to learn more, he studied with James Brown’s former sax supremo Pee Wee Ellis whilst still at school. Harry’s obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Cardiff University which gave him the opportunity to immerse himself in 20th Century American Literature in addition to throwing himself into the city’s vibrant music scene.

Enrolment on a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama enabled Harry to pull everything together. Honing his writing and arranging skills, he was awarded funding to compose, arrange and perform a concert programme of jazz with a string ensemble at the prestigious Dora Stoutzker concert hall. A move to London in 2015 was followed by further study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where Harry obtained a second masters degree and (with support from the Guildhall Music Financial Award Scholarship and the Macfarlane Walker Trust) he was able to take lessons with Iain Ballamy, Jean Toussaint, Wayne Escoffery, Scott Stroman and John Harle.

Harry draws inspiration from the tenor sax masters, from the foundational figures of John Coltrane and Joe Henderson, to contemporary players like Mark Turner, Chris Speed and Joshua Redman. His approach to the music is characterised by an unswerving focus and determination to explore every aspect of the music, from large-ensemble composition to free-form improv. His primary drive is his fascination with improvisation - balanced with his love of composition. Writing is central to his musical personality, and he writes all the time, running a weekly composition club with a circle of fellow composers. His participation in Howl Quartet allows for everything from working on the Bach’s two-part inventions with fellow saxophonist Dan Smith to free-form group improvisation and advanced composition. Describing themselves as “dynamic, expressive outlet with an emphasis on storytelling through melodic composition and improvisation ”, they released their debut Life As We See It in early 2021, with sold out shows at EFG London Jazz Festival and The Vortex and followed up with the sophomore Airglow in 2023. Howl Quartet celebrated Airglow’s release with a sold out concert at the prestigious Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street. This project is the perfect forum for Harry’s fierce dedication to exploring the music he loves. 

“This focused, expressive London-based quartet combine a fiery, passionate energy with a thoughtful, intelligent wistfulness and the results are utterly compelling. The strength and power of their compositions and performances are at times mouthwatering”. UK Vibe*****