Hutchings, from London, spent his childhood in Barbados. He learned clarinet at age nine, played in calypso bands, and practiced over hip-hop beats by Nas and Barbadian music. He studied clarinet at Guildhall School of Music from 2004 to 2008. Afterward, he worked with a variety of artists, such as Mulatu Astatke, the Heliocentrics, Soweto Kinch, Floating Points, and Courtney Pine
He has composed pieces for various musical ensembles such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, and Ligeti Quartet. Additionally, he has performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Britten Sinfonietta, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He has explored various musical instruments, including the ancient Japanese Shakuhachi, which he started playing in 2020 during the pandemic
After releasing his debut EP, “Afrikan Culture,” in 2022, the artist decided to take a break from playing the saxophone -his primary instrument and his association with Sons of Keme,l and Shabaka and the Ancestors. For his next album, “Perceive its Beauty, Acknowledge its Grace,” Hutchings collaborated with notable artists including percussionist Carlos Niño, bassist Esperanza Spalding, and vocalists Saul Williams and Lianne La Havas.
During a discussion about his latest project, he revealed that he had invited several musicians he had met and respected while touring the United States over the past few years. To his amazement, everyone agreed to collaborate with him. His goal was to bring all the musicians together at Rudy Van Gelder’s historic studios, which he believed had influenced the sound of many of the classic jazz albums that had shaped his musical abilities. They played without headphones or any other separation to capture the atmosphere of simply playing together in the space without any technological intervention. After recording hours of inspired interactions, he began working on producing an album from the recorded material.
The album is out now. For further information on the artist, please visit the following links:
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