Donovan Haffner

Alto saxophonist Donovan Haffner has been described as one of the best-kept secrets on the London jazz scene, but if you caught his set at The Bear last November, you will already be well aware of his talent.

His debut album, Alleviate, was released earlier this year, and he has just been named Best Newcomer at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. We are delighted to welcome him back with his quintet to close out our Generation Jazz series.

Donovan joined the highly respected Tomorrow’s Warriors Young Artist Development Programme when he was just eleven years old and was mentored by Gary Crosby OBE, Binker Golding, and Alex Davis. He proved to be a standout talent, and by the age of eighteen, he was invited to tour Italy with the multi-award-winning drummer Moses Boyd.

Since then, Donovan has played with Jay Phelps, Charlie Stacey, and Balimaya. He has also performed with the Danish jazz pianist and composer Rasmus Sørensen and was selected by Tony Kofi to be part of American jazz legend Charles Tolliver’s Big Band, headlining at the Barbican as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Donovan is also still very much part of the Tomorrow’s Warriors musical family, performing with both Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica.

However, it is his growing reputation as a bandleader and composer in his own right that has brought Donovan to the attention of jazz fans across the country. Catch him while you can in the intimate environment of The Bear Club.