Akil Henry

Akil Henry is a pianist, composer, bandleader, and musical director who has performed and collaborated with a wide range of artists across the UK jazz scene, including Venna, Jon Onabowu, LOX, INSXGHT, Zola Marcelle, Ni Maxine and Rick Leon James. Raised within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Henry developed his musical voice through worship, where he learned to approach the piano as a melodic, rhythmic and harmonic instrument. That foundation continues to shape his music today, blending the spontaneity of jazz with the depth of gospel, R&B, and the wider traditions of Black diasporic music. As the founder and bandleader of Between Worlds, Henry has built a reputation for creating expansive, spiritually rooted music that crosses genre boundaries. The group has sold out shows at PizzaExpress Live, performed at jazz re:freshed's acclaimed residency, and appeared at the Brick Lane Jazz Festival. He also leads ENDORSEMENT, a project that fuses jazz, contemporary gospel, traditional church music, and R&B. Following a standout debut at jazz re:freshed, the group has quickly become one of Henry's most exciting creative outlets. Alongside his work as a performer and composer, Henry continues to serve as a music leader within his local church in Milton Keynes. Whether on stage, in worship, or in collaboration with other artists, his work is driven by a desire to celebrate Black musical traditions while creating new spaces where faith, community, and artistic expression can meet.