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Archie Henderson (comedian)

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For the Canadian ice hockey player, see Archie Henderson.
Archie Henderson
Archie Henderson as Jazz Emu in 2022
Born
Archie Henderson

London, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, comedian, writer
Years active2015–present
Notable workYou Shouldn’t Have
Knight Fever
Websitejazzemu.com

Archie Henderson is an English comedian, musician and writer, most notable for performing as the character Jazz Emu,[2] a comic character, "more or less born out of lockdown".[3] In 2023, Henderson 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] in 2015, and at the Edinburgh Fringe. His inspirations include comic musicians, Flanders and Swann, Bill Bailey, Flight of the Conchords and Victor Borge.[citation needed]

In 2016, he formed the comedy trio "Two Plus Ones" with fellow Footlights alumni Luke Sumner and Josh Chana. Their comedic endeavors included performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, contributions to Comic Relief, and sketches for the children's show "So Beano!" on Sky One, the group performed under the pseudonym "All the Same." They won the award of “Best Newcomers” at the 2017 Musical Comedy Awards.

Henderson's stand-up comedy career included participation in events like the London BBC New Comedy Awards 2018, Heat 1.[6]

He also had a solo show “NOW That’s Who I Call Archie Henderson” that was performed at the Brighton Fringe in 2018. He won the IYAF Best of Brighton Fringe Comedy award for this performance.

In 2019, Henderson gained recognition alongside comedian Adrian Gray for a Twitter thread humourously tracing music charts back to 14,000 BC, playfully answering the question, "What happened to the first four versions of Mambo No. 5?"

He made cameo appearances in various television programs, such as Late Night Mash and the BBC Three pilot "Britney," where he played the characters 'Peter' and 'Pedro,' respectively.

Jazz Emu

[edit]

In 2018, Henderson introduced his stand-up show titled Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu. Originally, the name referred to his comedic act rather than a distinct character. The choice of "Jazz" alluded to the musical aspect of his comedy, while "Emu" humourously reflected his own physical appearance, as he described himself as resembling an emu. Performances continued into 2019, encompassing venues such as the Brighton Fringe, Buxton Fringe, and Edinburgh Fringe.

Unable to perform live during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Henderson adapted by creating musical songs and sketches on both his personal and Jazz Emu YouTube channel and social media accounts. Through this, he achieved success with the character Jazz Emu, with his song "How To Socialise" featuring on BBC Radio 1 by presenter Greg James who described him as "a very funny man."

The character of Jazz Emu has a unique persona and backstory, often characterised as a Global Sensation, '70s lothario, or unlicensed Sex Therapist. He adopts a distinctive, low, smooth voice and an exaggerated pronunciation of words. The character's backstory delves into a strained relationship with his father, explored extensively in his full-length show, "You Shouldn't Have."

Henderson rarely conducts press interviews as the character Jazz Emu, instead opting to discuss the character in the third person. When Jazz Emu does participate in interviews, the responses tend to be whimsical, obscure, and bizarre.

In 2022, Henderson wrote and starred in a 7½-minute pilot titled "Jazz Emu," produced in collaboration with Blink Industries, a part of Blink (company). This pilot garnered a Discovery Award in the Comedy Shorts Category at the LOCO London Film Festival in May 2023. Notably, comedian Phil Wang played the character Crimpsy Dimpson.

Jazz Emu has also made appearances in musical comedy skits on BBC Radio 4's "The Now Show." including playing the final ever song on the show's final episode.[7][8][9]

Henderson appeared as a guest on Richard Herring's interview podcasts, "Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast," in 2023.

Jazz Emu shows

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Discography

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Since 2020, Henderson has released five full-length, self-produced albums and singles under the persona of Jazz Emu.

  • Albums
(Sic) (2020)
  • Released: 20 January 2020 ** Tracklist: "Get It Right" – 3:13 "Light Touch" – 2:59 "Miami" – 2:42 "Taste Of You" – 2:44 "Old Fashioned Lover" – 1:58 "Hench" – 2:29 "Stop Playing Games" – 3:16 "Tiny Butt" – 1:44 "Elaine" – 3:17 "Overthunk" – 2:07 "Beard" – 2:35 "High Budget Boy" – 2:41 "Sexier" – 2:54 "Sincerité" – 3:03
Vulnerabilité (2021)
  • Released: 21 January 2021 ** Tracklist: "Monottone" – 2:35 "Dream Of You" – 3:57 "Allergic" – 3:03 "The Right Time" – 3:34 "Popping The Question" – 3:37 "Lockdown Lover" – 2:02 "How To Socialise" – 1:35 "Inhaler" – 1:32 "Vibe It Out" – 3:09 "MSN Messenger" – 5:24 "Fingerful Gloves" – 1:11 "My Hair (Ariana Grande Cover)" – 1:53 "Keep The Lights On" – 3:08 "An Elegant Solution to a Universal Problem" – 3:25 "We Own A Jungle" – 2:51 "Phagocyte" – 3:38
Humilis (2021)
  • Released: 26 July 2021 ** Tracklist: "Ouverture" – 1:12 "You Can't Make Me Dance" – 3:19 "My Brothe" – 2:57 "Shirt Collar" – 3:29 "You Make Me Wanna Die Again" – 2:47 "Funkbot 10,000" – 3:39 "Plan Of Attack" – 2:22 "Oozing" – 3:16 "Kneecaps" – 3:28 "Potato" – 3:09 "Microwave" – 1:05 "Hœrgüpjelly Kisses" – 3:20 "Perko" – 2:17 "Nice" – 4:18
Digital Spool (2022)
  • Released: 1 September 2022 ** Tracklist: "Prologue" – 1:23 "Still Waiting" – 3:23 "Schneeky Phase" – 2:36 "You Would Never" – 1:57 "The Duality of Man" – 3:51 "Tonally Inconsistent?!" – 3:52 "English Language" – 1:41 "Generic Response No. 327" – 2:34 "Fabergé Egg" – 2:27 "Monster Incorporated" – 1:47 "One of the Good Ones" – 2:58 "Hummingbird" – 4:12 "Digital Spool" – 3:04 "Epilogue (In The Clear Now)" – 2:30
Technically, Probably More Of The Same, I Suppose, In Theory (2023)
  • Released: 19 December 2023 ** Tracklist: "The Strahtkahf Combo" – 2:31 "Everlight" – 2:48 "Eggerson Keaveney" – 3:28 "Eviscerate" – 3:38 "D.H.A.R.N.T.Z" – 3:29 "Chemical Melody" – 3:05 "The Real Me" – 3:45 "Money" – 3:23 "I Would Rather" – 3:30 "Cold Night In Lisbon" – 2:06 "A Dad Has Rights" – 2:33 "This Is How I Go Down" – 3:49
  • Singles
Passionfruit (2018)
  • Released: 4 December 2018 ** Tracklist: "Passionfruit" – 3:09
Dangerous Andrew (2019)
  • Released: 22 July 2019 ** Tracklist: "Dangerous Andrew" – 2:32
The True Meaning of The Season (2019)
  • Released: 4 December 2019 ** Tracklist: "The True Meaning of The Season" – 2:45
I Believe In A Thing Called Love (2022)
  • Released: 17 March 2022 ** Tracklist: "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" – 2:12
I Could Get Into It (2024)
  • Released: 13 July 2024
Romanticise (2024)
  • Released: 14 August 2024

TV and radio appearances

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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,[17] it was a parody of Mae Muller's official 2023 UK entry "I Wrote a Song".[18]

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.[19] Henderson appeared as Jazz Emu on Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown on 2 February 2024.[20] In June 2024 he appeared on BBC Four's Loose Ends.[21]

Awards and recognition

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In August 2023 Jazz Emu ranked 26th in the Daily Telegraph's 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century.[22]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 So You Think You're Funny Nominated
2018 BBC New Comedy Award[23] Nominated
Best of Brighton Fringe Comedy[24] IYAF Won
Judges Vote Musical Comedy Awards[25] Nominated
2019 Comedy Reserve The Pleasance Nominated
People's Choice Award[26] Amused Moose Award Won
2021 Legends of Lockdown[27] Chortle Awards Won
2022 Best Variety Act Nominated
2023 Variety or Character Act[28] Won
Social Media Award[29] Won
Best Ensemble LOCO London Comedy Film Festival[30] Won

References

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  1. ^ Beth Kelly. "Review: Jazz Emu". thetab.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Charlie Flynn (2023-04-27). "Social Media comedy star Jazz Emu comes home to roost in Jersey". bailiwickexpress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  4. ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  5. ^ Veronia Lee (2024-06-14). "Jazz Emu, Soho Theatre review – delightfully daft musical spoof". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  6. ^ "BBC New Comedy Awards".
  7. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4, The Now Show – 18th March". BBC. 18 March 2022.
  8. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4, The Now Show - 11th November". BBC. 11 November 2022.
  9. ^ "The Now Show April 21st 2023". 21 April 2023.
  10. ^ Jay Richardson (2019-08-08). "Comedy Review: Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu". scotsman.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  11. ^ "Jazz Emu: You Shouldn't Have". timeout.com. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  12. ^ Brian Logan (2022-12-03). "Jazz Emu review – a joyful hour with a delusional musical star". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  13. ^ Dominic Maxwell (2022-12-12). "Jazz Emu – You Shouldn't Have review – my new favourite comedian". The Times. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "My Festival: Jazz Emu". scotsman.com. 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  17. ^ "We also wrote a song". chortle.co.uk. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  18. ^ "Songwriter says parody Eurovision song was a 'hair-raising challenge'". shropshirestar.com. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  19. ^ "Jazz Emu – The Sound of Us". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  20. ^ "8 out of 10 cats does Countdown". channel4.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  21. ^ "Sounds". bbc.co.uk. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "NCA 2018: Heat One". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  24. ^ "Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu". EdFest.com. Edinburgh, UK: Gilded Balloon. July 2019. p. 123.
  25. ^ "Musical Comedy Awards". musicalcomedyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  26. ^ "Archie Henderson". amusedmoose.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  27. ^ "All hail the legends of lockdown!". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  28. ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  29. ^ "Chortle Awards 2023 winners announced". chortle.co.uk. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  30. ^ "Jazz Emu (Archie Henderson)". unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
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