I am fortunate enough, over a number of years, to have watched, and listened, to Hannah Horton grow as a player, performer, and composer. Her music is very much based in her lived life and as she says in her liner notes for Stories on the Wind: “Each piece began as a feeling, a moment, or a story: memories of childhood, love, loss, hope, and the quiet strength that comes from finding your own path.”
Out of the Shadows has a great funky sax driven edge to it with a fine piano section from Sam Leak and sets up the album nicely for what is to come. Chasing Daisies, exemplifies what Hannah Horton is all about: a fond childhood memory set to a simple lyrical melody that captures the innocent joy of days past. Peace Speak, on the hand, gives us another side to Hannah’s work, something more serious with a harder edge. This is a tune written out of frustration of what Hannah sees happening around her and is a well crafted number, good bass section from Rob Statham with Sam Leak adding subtle tones on the organ without taking anything away from the overall feel of the piece.
I have written about Whisper elsewhere on the simplyjazztalk blog site (Whisper the single) and suffice to say that nothing about my opinion of this number has changed after multiple listenings: it is quite simply one of the most beautiful ballads I have in my collection of jazz music. Only The Wind Knows continues in the ballad theme with sensitive sax and piano playing – with Rob Statham and Steve Taylor being alive to the emotive theme of the number – from Hannah and Sam as their melodic lines interweave to create something quite captivating.
The baritone solo opening to Your Rite is quite enticing and as beautiful as it is, I was not too sure where it was going to take me. The tune then evolves into something beguiling, something bold, something to hold the listener’s interest throughout – with wonderful percussion work from Steve Taylor. Fortune Teller is a snappy Latin vibed number that is full of joy and wonderful rhythms that would encourage any audience to their feet in a live setting.
Alone is a “piece [that] reflects some of the solitude that comes with being an independent artist”. The lyrical sax melody floats over and around the rhythm section with an occasional breakthrough of piano from Sam. The tune comes to a quiet faded out ending like everything being let go. The album’s final track is a moving tribute to saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and a fitting tribute it is too, with Hannah Horton and Sam Leak playing in a pared-backed homage to Mr Gone.
What I like about Hannah’s “own path” is that it is, musically, uncluttered but full of meaning, memories and connections. In a live performance Hannah will let her audience know what lies behind the music and then let that music tell its own story. On a recording Hannah can’t vocalize the inspirations she draws on for her compositions but her ability for musical storytelling is very much apparent in her playing. There is still much to come from this musician and composer as she continues on her “own path” and Stories on the Wind is another fine chapter in an unfinished volume of work.
Stories on the Wind was released on the Swinging Cats Records label 22 May, 2026, and is available through Bandcamp.
Tracklist: 01 – Out of the Shadows; 02 – Chasing Daisies; 03 – Peace Speak; 04 – Whisper; 05 – Only The Wind Knows; 06 – Your Rite; 07 – The Fortune Teller; 08 – Alone; 09 – Remembering Mr Gone.
Musicians: Hannah Horton (tenor & baritone sax), Sam Leak (piano & organ), Rob Statham (electric bass guitar), Steve Taylor (drums & percussion).
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