FREDDIE BENEDICT QUARTET WITH DAVE O'HIGGINS!

Bar 7 pm / music 8 pm

Freddie Benedict performs: The Great American and Brazilian Songbook!
Featuring special guest saxophonist Dave O’Higgins!

Join acclaimed jazz vocalist Freddie Benedict for an unforgettable evening at Jazz Café POSK in Hammersmith, as he brings to life timeless classics from The Great American and Brazilian Songbook. With his velvety tone, impeccable phrasing, and effortless charm, Freddie pays tribute to two musical giants — Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim — whose legendary collaborations shaped the sound of sophisticated jazz and bossa nova.

Expect lush swing, tender ballads, and the lilting rhythms of Brazil as Freddie and his band reinterpret favourites such as “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Wave,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “One Note Samba”.

Adding to the evening’s sparkle is a very special guest appearance from renowned saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, one of the UK’s leading jazz instrumentalists. With O’Higgins’ lyrical tone and masterful improvisation alongside Freddie’s smooth vocals, this promises to be a night of warmth, elegance, and world-class musicianship!

Set in the intimate surroundings of Jazz Café POSK, this concert offers a perfect winter treat for lovers of classic jazz and bossa nova.

Line up:

Freddie Benedict - vocals

Chris Bland - piano

Mirko Scarcia - bass

Floyer Sydenham - drums

Dave O’ Higgins on sax as special guest

Hailing from a theatrical family, Freddie Benedict’s extraordinary voice soared from a young age. A choral scholar and classical soloist when young, it is as a jazz interpreter that his mature, warm baritone has really found its calling. With a voice that bridges the timeless charm of jazz with a modern edge, Freddie offers a whistlestop tour through his musical world - blending technical brilliance with soulful storytelling. As the lead male singer with National Youth Jazz Orchestra for 10 years, he has performed all over the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s. Freddie has recorded some original music which he is planning to release in the not-so-distant future!

“It doesn’t get much better than this…a dazzling vocalist” – Steven Berkoff

“Freddie is an incredible young, up-and-coming jazz vocalist” – Jon Smith, The Swingles

Chris Bland (piano) is a rising star on the London jazz scene. Born in Wigan and now based in Leeds, he graduated from Leeds College of Music in 2015 with top piano honours and was awarded a Global Music Foundation scholarship. He studied under the likes of Bruce Barth, René Marie, and Perico Sambeat, and has performed at the Tuscany International Jazz Festival and with leading orchestras and soloists. A former member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Chris collaborates regularly with James Morrison, Dennis Rollins, René Marie, Ben Cottrell, Callum Au, and many others.
Also, an accomplished educator, Chris lectures at Falmouth University/Yamaha Jazz Summer School and leads workshops at Leeds College of Music and Warwick School.

Floyer Sydenham is a London-based drummer currently studying jazz drums at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. A versatile performer, he moves effortlessly between jazz, modern jazz, pop, funk, rock, blues and fusion, demonstrating strong musical sensitivity and adaptability. While working on his own projects, Floyer also plays with the trio “St. Barbe” — a guitar-led jazz/prog-rock band that has supported major acts such as Mike Stern. His performance in recitals has earned recognition: the Guildhall awarded him the prestigious Anjool Maldé Jazz Prize for Instrumentalist after one recital “which showcased not only his considerable skills at the drum set but also a refined and mature ensemble concept”. Floyer brings to his drumming a combination of technical precision, broad stylistic range, and a strong sense of musicality — making him equally at home in straight-ahead jazz settings, fusion grooves, and genre-crossing projects alike.

Dave O’Higgins is one of the UK’s leading jazz saxophonists, celebrated for his warm tone, impeccable technique, and effortlessly swinging style. With a career spanning over three decades, Dave has performed and recorded with an impressive roster of international artists, including Frank Sinatra, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, and Incognito. A prolific bandleader, composer, and educator, he has released more than twenty acclaimed albums under his own name and continues to be a driving force in the British jazz scene. Whether performing straight-ahead jazz or exploring contemporary sounds, Dave’s playing is always marked by lyrical phrasing, rhythmic finesse, and deep musicality.

www.freddiebenedict.com

www.daveohiggins.com

www.mjazz.co.uk/search-artists/yh-mirko-scarcia

Media patronage: Londynek.net