Archie Henderson (comedian)
Archie Henderson | |
---|---|
![]() Archie Henderson as Jazz Emu in 2022 | |
Born | Archie Henderson London, England |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | University of Cambridge[1] |
Occupation(s) | Musician, comedian |
Years active | 2018 - present |
Website | jazzemu |
Archie Henderson is a British musical comedian. He created Jazz Emu,[2] a multi-award-winning comic character, "more or less born out of lockdown".[3] In 2023, Henderson / Jazz Emu won two Chortle Awards: Best Social Media and Best Variety or Character.[4]
Comedy background
[edit]Henderson's comedy career started with sketch shows and stand-up performance with the Cambridge University Footlights[5] and at the Edinburgh Fringe. His inspirations include comic musicians, Flanders and Swann, Bill Bailey, Flight of the Conchords and Victor Borge.[citation needed]
When the COVID pandemic led to a hiatus in live performance, Henderson created music videos with a "70s and 80s-inspired visual and sound" featuring Jazz Emu, which he would upload to YouTube. These videos were noticed by Adam Flynn, a Jersey-based theatre producer. Flynn proposed that Henderson created a live Jazz Emu show. You Shouldn't Have was supported by Arthouse Jersey and was taken to the Edinburgh Fringe for a two-week run in summer 2022. The following April, Henderson performed the show at the Jersey Arts Centre.[6]
Jazz Emu shows
[edit]- 2018 – Archie Henderson – Jazz Emu
- 2019 – Archie Henderson – Jazz Emu including a run at Gilded Balloon[7]
- 2022 – You Shouldn't Have including a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe[8] and a run at London's Soho Theatre[9][10]
- 2024 – Knight Fever[11][12] including a run at The Pleasance, Edinburgh[13]
Jazz Emu albums
[edit]- 2020 – (Sic)
- 2021 – Vulnerabilité
- 2021 – Humilis
- 2022 – Digital Spool
- 2023 - Technically, Probably More Of The Same, I Suppose, In Theory
TV & Radio appearances
[edit]In 2023, Henderson collaborated with television channel Dave to write an "unofficial entry for the Eurovision Song Contest". Called "We Also Wrote A Song", and featuring Rachel Parris,[14] it was a parody of Mae Muller's official 2023 UK entry "I Wrote a Song".[15]
Jazz Emu hosted a show on BBC Radio 4 entitled Jazz Emu: The Sound of US, which aired in February 2024. There were four episodes, namely The Sound of Love, The Sound of the Future, The Sound of Man and The Sound of Family. The show was co-written with Adrian Gray.[16] Henderson appeared as Jazz Emu on Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown on 2 February 2024.[17] In June 2024 he appeared on BBC Four's Loose Ends.[18]
Awards and recognition
[edit]In August 2023 Jazz Emu ranked 26th in the Daily Telegraph's 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century.[19]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | So You Think You're Funny | Nominated | |
2018 | BBC New Comedy Award[20] | Nominated | |
Best of Brighton Fringe Comedy[21] | IYAF | Won | |
Judges Vote | Musical Comedy Awards[22] | Nominated | |
2019 | Comedy Reserve | The Pleasance | Nominated |
People's Choice Award[23] | Amused Moose Award | Won | |
2021 | Legends of Lockdown[24] | Chortle Awards | Won |
2022 | Best Variety Act | Nominated | |
2023 | Variety or Character Act[25] | Won | |
Social Media Award[26] | Won | ||
Best Ensemble | LOCO London Comedy Film Festival[27] | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ Beth Kelly. "Review: Jazz Emu". thetab.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Mark Monahan (2022-12-15). "A musical and comic bull's-eye from marvellously ridiculous star in the making, Jazz Emu". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Charlie Flynn (2023-04-27). "Social Media comedy star Jazz Emu comes home to roost in Jersey". bailiwickexpress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Veronia Lee (2024-06-14). "Jazz Emu, Soho Theatre review – delightfully daft musical spoof". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Charlie Flynn (2023-04-27). "Social Media comedy star Jazz Emu comes home to roost in Jersey". bailiwickexpress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Jay Richardson (2019-08-08). "Comedy Review: Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu". scotsman.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Jazz Emu: You Shouldn't Have". timeout.com. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Brian Logan (2022-12-03). "Jazz Emu review – a joyful hour with a delusional musical star". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Dominic Maxwell (2022-12-12). "Jazz Emu – You Shouldn't Have review - my new favourite comedian". thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Brian Logan (2024-06-09). "Jazz Emu – Knight Fever review - fun synthpop pastiche about a frontman striving for glory". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Tristram Fane Saunders (2024-06-07). "Jazz Emu – Soho Theatre: A deliciously silly hour from Britain's finest young musical comedian". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "My Festival: Jazz Emu". scotsman.com. 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "We also wrote a song". chortle.co.uk. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Songwriter says parody Eurovision song was a 'hair-raising challenge'". shropshirestar.com. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Jazz Emu – The Sound of Us". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "8 out of 10 cats does Countdown". channel4.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Sounds". bbc.co.uk. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Brian Logan (2024-06-09). "Jazz Emu – Knight Fever review - fun synthpop pastiche about a frontman striving for glory". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "NCA 2018: Heat One". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu". EdFest.com. Edinburgh, UK: Gilded Balloon. July 2019. p. 123.
- ^ "Musical Comedy Awards". musicalcomedyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Archie Henderson". amusedmoose.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "All hail the legends of lockdown!". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Jazz Emu (Archie Henderson)". unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.