Dave O'Higgins, Rob Luft, Scott Flanigan, rod youngs

O’Higgins and Luft Quartet; Play Monk and ‘Trane
Sunday 8 September
£17/£15

Dave O’Higgins - tenor saxophone
Rob Luft - guitar
Scott Flanigan - organ
Rod Youngs - drums

This is part of a substantial 40-plus date autumn tour promoting a new CD O’Higgins and Luft play Monk and Trane (Ubuntu Music 2019)

For established giant of the UK jazz scene, Dave O’Higgins; this will be his 21st CD as leader. For bright young “firebrand” Rob Luft, this will be his 2nd. They will be leading a quartet with Irish organist, Scott Flanigan and American drummer, Rod Youngs. The repertoire will be made up of Thelonious Monk compositions (expect some rarely heard ones!) and tunes played by John Coltrane with especial reference to his choice of standards and various collaborations of the 1950s.

Both Monk and Trane were “modernists”, but also steeped in swing and the rich tradition of the beboppers. Dave and Rob intend to respect this lineage whilst putting their own mark on it. Expect some swing, fun, grooves and moods from this exciting new collaboration.

O’Higgins experience working with artists spans a huge spectrum, such as US musicians Joey Calderazzo, Joe Locke, Dave Kikowski, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Smith and Wayne Shorter; to vocalists Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee and Kurt Elling and long term work with Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine.

Co-operations with South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim to the legendary French pair of violinist Stephane Grappelli and composer/songwriter Michel Legrand; He also wrote and produced the last Matt Bianco album, “Gravity”.

Also on Dave’s CV: Frank Sinatra (the last London appearance - a week at the Royal Albert Hall in 1992) and a tour and album with Ray Charles (Strong Love Affair)

Watch the album trailer video: youtu.be/a_LrdP86YPU