Ross McHenry – Waves

Waves is an ambitious project from bassist-composer Ross McHenry, an exploration of memory, history, and the impact of seismic personal and existential events. Crafted in the wake of Australia’s devastating 2019 summer fires, Waves stands as a poignant love letter to the landscapes and relationships that shape our stories. Recorded at the Bunker Studios in New York, the album features an impressive roster of musicians, including Eric Harland, Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin, Adam O’Farrill, and Matthew Sheens, lifting McHenry’s celebrated compositional voice to unprecedented heights.

‘Waves’ embarks from the depths of the ocean to the nostalgia of childhood gardens, encapsulating Ross McHenry’s reflections on the ephemeral nature of memory and history. “This work is about how we loosely grasp our own memory and fathom the uncontrollable chain reactions of seismic personal and existential events,” McHenry explains. The album is not just a musical exploration but a journey through the emotional landscapes that define us. It reflects a profound connection to place and the stories that emerge from our interactions with the world around us. “Written against the backdrop of a burning Australia, ‘Waves’ is a testament to the resilience of landscape and the human spirit,” McHenry shares.

Ross McHenry’s global reputation is built on a foundation of fearless experimentalism and significant international collaborations. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2019 APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Jazz and the 2020 Arts South Australia Ruby Award for Best Work Outside a Festival. (Earshift)