SoundCellar & Swanage Jazz Festival present The Henrik Jensen Trio

The Henrik Jensen Trio delivers melodic, expressive jazz rooted in rich interplay and storytelling. Featuring bassist Henrik Jensen, pianist Esben Tjalve, and drummer Dave Smith, their 2024 debut Above Your House blends elegance, spontaneity, and emotional depth into a distinctive modern jazz sound.  

Henrik Jensen is a Danish bassist and composer prominent on the UK jazz scene. After moving to London in 1997 to study electric bass, he transitioned to double bass, training at the Royal Academy of Music. Known for his lyrical and rhythmically complex compositions, Jensen leads a new trio with Esben Tjalve and Dave Smith, featured on the album Above Your House. He has released four albums as a leader, including Affinity (2020), praised by The Guardian. Jensen has collaborated with artists like Iain Ballamy and The Puppini Sisters, and appears on albums by Steve Banks, John Law, and Joy Ellis.

Dave Smith is best known for his work with Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Fofoulah, and Afro-Blues group Juju. He has recorded drums for Rachid Taha, Bassekou Kouyate and Robert Plant and has performed with Patty Griffin, Donny McCaslin, Chrisse Hynde and Eddie Henderson. A Loop Collective co-founder, Smith blends West African rhythms with European jazz in boundary-pushing projects like Outhouse Ruhabi.

Esben Tjalve is a Danish pianist and composer, educated at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School. He has composed for BBC, Universal, and Warner Bros., including film, theatre, and acclaimed radio dramas. Tjalve has collaborated with top jazz musicians like Jasper Høiby and Toni Kofi, as well as world and pop artists. His band Red Kite has released albums on F-ire and Jellymould Jazz to critical acclaim.