Anthony Strong

Release: November 11, 2022

Bringing together a lush string orchestra,  timeless repertoire and a serious jazz  sensibility, British singer-pianist Anthony Strong returns with his fifth studio offering ‘Easy Sailing‘ this November. 

With more than a decade of touring under his belt – from the Hollywood Bowl in the West, to tours and festivals across Asia in the East – this new record captures the dynamism of his live show, in glorious technicolour. 

Fifteen carefully-crafted songs take the listener on a journey, with songs from jazz legends Nat King Cole and Hoagy Carmichael, to the great  Leonard Bernstein, and even The Beatles. 

Hard-swinging classics like Straighten Up & Fly Right and Do It The Hard Way rub shoulders with sumptuous ballads (Skylark, When You Wish Upon A Star) and blues-infused originals like Minute By Minute and Any Old Place. 

Recorded at London’s Livingston Studios and mastered at the world famous Abbey Road, ‘Easy Sailing’ gives the deepest insight yet into Anthony’s musical world. Acting not just as singer-pianist but also arranger, composer and producer, the record draws on 2-decades of music industry experience and an impressive black-book of musicians. 

Callum Au (Quincy Jones. Jamie Cullum) adds some signature arrangements and orchestrations to the mix, Brandon Allen lends his fearsome tenor saxophone technique as a guest soloist and rising-star American singer Emmaline joins Anthony for a modern reworking of Crowded House’s 80s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. 

And, alongside the trusted jazz line-up of bass (Spencer Brown), drums (Andy Ball) and guitar (Nick Fitch), the album brings together backing vocalists, a string orchestra, french horn and percussion for the ride. 

Things may not have been easy sailing recently, but Anthony proves once again that a fresh take on feel-good classics can give music fans from all sides a much-needed break. 

London Jazz News

Sonic Soul

BBC

Soul and Jazz and Funk

JAZZ RADIO (FR)

POLIFONIA