Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft Quartet – Jazz at NAC

Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft Quartet join us promoting their new CD, ‘O’Higgins and Luft play Monk and Trane’ (Ubuntu Music 2019).

For established giant of the UK jazz scene, O’Higgins, this will be his 21st CD as leader. For young “firebrand” Rob Luft, this will be his 2nd. They will be leading a quartet with organist, Ross Stanley 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 special reference to his choice of standards and various collaborations in the 1950s. Both Monk and Trane were “modernists”, but also steeped in swing and the rich tradition of the be-boppers. 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.

Dave O’Higgins – tenor saxophone
Rob Luft – Electric guitar
Ross Stanley – Hammond Organ
Rod Youngs –Drums

O’Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane all started when Luft got in touch with O’Higgins to make up a quartet. The interaction, shared sensibilities and deeply held mutual respect made this collaboration an instant success.

Dave O’Higgins explains,

“Rob called me for some ‘blowing’ gigs last year. It wasn’t difficult to find a common repertoire, and a predilection for Monk and Trane tunes was apparent. We had such fun that I suggested trying to get a short tour together and a recording and before we knew it there were 40 dates in the book and a new CD planned with Ubuntu.

The music we’ve chosen to play focuses on lesser known Monk compositions and some of the songs Coltrane chose to record in the late 50s, more than the usual few Monk tunes and modal Coltrane so often heard. The choice of Scott Flanigan on organ changes our course from the obvious sonority associated with either musician.

“We have reinterpreted the material in a way that is both contemporary and in the tradition, drawing from a wide range of influences, with deep respect for the authors. American drummer, Rod Youngs, completes the quartet.”