Dave O'higgins With Special Guest Phil Dwyer

8:30pm Undoubtedly one of this country’s finest modern jazz sax players, Dave has worked with the likes of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Jimmy Smith and Annie Lennox. The winner of a multitude of awards, he has produced 9 albums to date of his own work and appeared on numerous sessions and festivals around the world. Currently he is working with his own terrific quartet, a storming 10 piece band (the “Biggish” Band) for which he also writes and arranges, an organ based “groove” band (“Organic Grooves”) and with one of New York’s leading sax players, Eric Alexander in a classic two sax “hard bop” quintet performing on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to all that he includes playing, writing and recording work with the “Jazzcotech Dancers” and has been touring the world with his Norwegian/Swedish collaboration. Dave is also a respected jazz educator associated with Leeds College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Universities of Natal and Cape Town. Tonight Dave's special guest is two-time Juno award-winning saxophonist Phil Dwyer. Showing a faultless command of his instrument combined with extraordinarily authoritative playing Phil has been a real presence on the North American jazz scene for 30 years. His exceptional talent was formally recognised in 2013 when he was awarded the Order Of Canada for “contributions to jazz as a performer, composer and producer". This is a brilliant gig led by two of the most respected musicians on the international jazz scene.

“…exceptional fluency...one of Britain’s finest musicians” Observer;
“….world class player” BBC Music Magazine;
“…Dazzling” Guardian;
"A stunning player in the neo-bop vein, with an apparently effortless flow of coherent ideas, beautiful time and a highly developed harmonic sense.” Jazz Guide