Dave O'Higgins
Sketchbook is an exciting two tenor-blowing extravaganza. On this, his second album for Jazzizit, British Tenor star Dave O'Higgins teams up with New York tenor great Eric Alexander. Dave met Eric through drummer Kristian Leth, when he was touring Denmark. Already a hugh admirer of Eric's playing, Dave didn't need much encouragement to get together with Eric along with Kristian, Arnie Somogyi - bass and James Pearson - piano to record this great album. When Dave presented the idea of recording the Band to Jazzizit Director Derek Nash, he jumped at the chance to have these two tenor greats sparring it out in the Jazzizit Clowns Pocket studio. After their warm-up stint at Ronnie's the band came into the studio and in one afternoon recorded Sketchbook. "A 'warts and all' live set, a real old two-tenor blowing session, with a couple of originals in the idiom thrown in" says Dave.
Dave O'Higgins
Jazzizit Records are delighted to present In the Zone by the Dave O'Higgins Quartet/Quintet. The CD marks a return to straight ahead acoustic jazz for Dave his first for the Jazzizit Label. The Dave O'Higgins Quartet/Quintet is made up of the finest musicians. Featuring Tom Cawley - piano, Sam Burgess - bass, Seb de Krom - drums and Martin Shaw - tpt and Dave on Tenor and Soprano sax. The album is a mixture of jazz standards & original tunes all with reference to the great saxophonists including Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson & John Coltrane.The original title track In the Zone alternates between latin and swing and recalls the Wayne Shorter Jazz Messengers era with a quote from Coltraine's Giant Steps in the melody. It's obvious that Martin Shaw on trumpet and Dave have a great empathy in their phrasing. The Story so Far is an easy going original tune that sounds like a standard. Operation Yardbird is dedicated to Charlie Parker with a tricky boppish melody. It is based on the changes of Sonny Stitt's Eternal Triangle and played with a turbo-charged energy feel akin to some of the recent Kenny Garrett Quartets "Dazzling post-pop tenorist with a magnificent range and a dramatick turn of phrase." The Guardian "A world-class player" BBC Music Magazine