Broadway Maybe – Henry Patterson (Lando Productions).
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The name of British singer Henry Patterson may not mean much to our readers but in fact the young man, now in his early twenties, has enjoyed a certain amount of fame since he was nine years old.
At that early age he wrote and published a book as a child entrepreneur. He went on at 12 years old to speak at the Retail Week Live at the O2 in London alongside Facebook and Google. His interest in business was fielded by the children’s book ‘Not Before Tea’, and a children’s brand about ‘The Adventures of Sherb and Pip’ which was based on products such as bags and soft toys which were marketed with great success.
He also cooperated on a book with Richard Branson called ‘Young and Mighty’, about earning some money, changing the future and spending your future doing what you love. And Cameron Mackintosh and Ariana DeBose have also worked with him on projects too.
As well his budding business career, Patterson was also developing his musical performances at many London and overseas venues, the result being that he has now released his first album. He seems to hold all the aces, not only as a successful businessman but he also has a quite exceptional vocal ability.
Only the best for Patterson, who managed to secure Abbey Road Studios in north west London, working closely with Leigh Stanford Thompson who arranged the album’s songs and put together an excellent band of five.
‘Broadway Maybe’ is a very enticing selection of musical theatre songs, most of which also appeared on film. The prologue is ‘I Hope I Get It’, that urgent plea from a would-be hoofer in an audition piece from A Chorus Line.
Changing moods ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ from Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady, is an unusual song for a male singer but Patterson does it proud.
From West Side Story, ‘Something’s Coming’ conjures up the excitement of the Bernstein/Sondheim show with great verve. From Fiddler on the Roof, ‘Matchmaker, Matchmaker’ is given a delightful lift by Patterson, although in contrast ‘Not a Day Goes By’ from Merrily We Roll Along is quite heart wrenching in its sadness.
This really is a superb album that should appeal to anyone entranced by musical theatre culture. I believe it to be a personal statement by Patterson wrapped up in a concept album of total delight.
In addition to a version of ‘In My Life’ (Les Misérables), ‘I Know Him So Well’ from Chess works well as just a solo rather than two women’s reminiscences. ‘Losing My Mind’ from Follies is one of the saddest of Sondheim’s lyrics – but then Patterson gets full value out of it. More Sondheim in ‘Another Hundred People’ from Company, a very difficult number to put across as its urgency forms the basis of the lyrics that are sung at top speed. Patterson manages it surprisingly well.
The album finishes on a high note with ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile’ from Annie and a reprise of ‘I Hope I Get It’.
The album is a selection of numbers that offer humour and comfort and really is a terrific debut. I don’t really wish to invite comparisons but I was reminded of the lightness of Bobby Darin coupled with the velvet tones of Mel Tormé.
Producer and musical director Leigh Stanford Thompson on piano, John Haslam (piano), Mikey Davis (reeds), Pete Hutchison (bass) and Sam Every (drums) all provide excellent and subtly unobtrusive accompaniment for Patterson’s sweetly attractive vocals. The recording itself is very well balanced courtesy of recording and mix engineer John Barrett and mastering engineer Simon Gibson.
We will have to look out for whatever Henry Patterson does next, whether it’s for business or singing pleasure it’s bound to be another class act.
Michael Darvell
- Henry Patterson will be performing at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho on 4 July 2026
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