Eric Alexander masterclass at LCCM

8 March 2010

The Dave O’Higgins Quintet featuring Eric Alexander

This collaboration began in 2008 on the suggestion of Danish drummer, Kristian Leth, that Dave & Eric would make a great team. This has certainly proven to be the case – the sparks have flown on the stage & the 2 protagonists have struck up a great rapport. It has been an inspiration to witness such a pairing of New York & London’s finest! The band has already undertaken 2 European tours, kicking off at Ronnie Scotts in London. The album, Sketch Book (on Jazzizit Records) was released in March 2009 to rave reviews. The 3rd European tour will start in Copenhagen with 3 nights at the renowned Jazzhouse Club. Expect some roaring 2-tenor blowing in the time honoured tradition, with a respectful doffing of the cap to Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt, Ronnie Scott & Tubby Hayes and many other greats.

Eric Alexander (tenor sax)

Runner up to Joshua Redman in 1991 Thelonius Monk International Saxophone Competition (Chris Potter came 3rd), Eric made his first solo recording in 1992. He has appeared as leader, sideman, producer & composer on probably 60-70 albums so far.

Eric tours the world over regularly to capacity audiences. He has developed a distinctive voice within the illustrious bop-based tradition of players such as Monk, Dizzy, Sonny Stitt, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean and Joe Henderson. He lives in New York can be heard regularly at the legendary club, Smoke.

Eric plays frequently with Mike LeDonne, David Hazeltine & the co-led group One For All with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine. In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Most recent among them is “Temple of Olympic Zeus”), “The Battle” with Vincent Herring and Mike LeDonne and “It’s all in the Game” with Harold Mabern.

Link to www.ericalexanderjazz.com

Dave O’Higgins (tenor sax)

Dave is twice winner of Best Tenor Sax at the British Jazz Awards. Dave leads various incarnations of his own group, most notably the Dave O’Higgins Quartet & Biggish Band. He has worked with BBC Big Band, Ronnie Scotts Allstars, Chico Chagas, Itchy Fingers, Martin Taylor, Jim Mullen, Joe Locke, Joey Calderazzo, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Matthew Herbert, Jimmy Smith, Frank Sinatra & Ray Charles to name a few.

His latest CD (10th as leader), “Sketch Book” on Jazzizit Records is a 2-tenor roar up with the great New York tenor saxophonist, Eric Alexander. Dave & Eric toured in March 2008 to rave reviews (see below) & this cd was recorded then.

Dave has collaborated with the Jazzcotech Dancers and co-produced 2 CDs with their director, Perry Louis, for the London jazz dance scene: Fast Foot Shuffle (2002) and Push (2004). Several of these tracks have become favourites of djs around the world.

Dave is also a busy educator, teaching regularly at the London Centre of Contemporary Music & Goldsmiths College.

Link to www.daveohiggins.com

Kristian Leth (drums)

Kristian Leth is best known as a freelance jazz drummer and teacher. During the last 10 years he has been touring and recording with many of the greatest American & European jazz artists including Benny Golson, Scott Hamilton, Eric Alexander, Harold Mabern, Tim Hagans, Tim Ries, Dave O’Higgins, Jan Lundgren, Eythor Gunnarsson, Sigudur Flosason. In Denmark he has been performing with Mads Baerentzen, Willy Egmose, Jacob Fischer, Jesper Thilo, Finn Ziegler, Carten Dahl, Jesper Bodilsen and Lennart Ginman. Kristian is also active as a session player in the studio & live with symphony orchestras.
Link to www. kristianleth.dk

World tour March 2009

March 23 London Ronnie Scotts
March 24 London Ronnie Scotts
March 25 London Ronnie Scotts
March 26 Nottingham
March 27 Sheffield
March 28 Lincoln
March 30 Aarhus DK
March 31 Sweden TBA
April 1 Karlskrona, SE
April 2 Fasching, Stockholm SE
April 3 Jazzhouse Dexter, Odense
April 4 Birdland, Hamburg

World tour March 2010

February 25 Copenhagen Jazzhouse
February 26 Copenhagen Jazzhouse
February 27 Copenhagen Jazzhouse
March 1 Aarhus V58
March 2 Skive Jazz Club
March 4 UK Manchester Band On The Wall
March 5 UK Darlington
March 6 UK Lincoln
March 7 UK London Pizza Express
March 10 Aberdeen Blue Posts
March 11 London 606 Club
March 12 UK Wakefield
March 13 Hamburg Birdland


In the UK, line-up will include Andrew McCormack (piano) & Arnie Somogyi (bass)
In Germany: Bugge Braune (piano) bass tba
In Denmark: Soeren Kristiansen (piano) & Jesper Bodilsen (bass)

By Dave Gelly, The Observer 19 April 2009

There's something about two tenor saxophones that seems to make sparks. About a year ago, inspired by three exhilarating nights at Ronnie Scott's, this pair went straight on to record this dazzling session. Because it was done "as live", in the course of one afternoon, the music has the kind of grip that polished and prepared jazz, however brilliant, never quite achieves. They're both such phenomenally good players that there's no question of rivalry, just a little extra sharpness to the performance. The same can be said for the rhythm section of James Person, Arnie Somogyi and Kristian Leth.