MONKIN' AROUND QUARTET!

Bar 7 pm / music 8 pm

Monkin’ Around is, at its heart, a trio of drums, bass and sax from all around the globe. Luke Fowler (from Australia) on bass, Billy Pod (from Greece) on drums, and Dave O’Higgins (of English-Irish-Mexican extraction) on sax. It was born at the Troubadour in London’s Earls Court. Dave had completed a tour in 2019 with guitarist Rob Luft where they played all 70-odd compositions by Thelonious Monk. Not wanting this hard work to go to waste, it was suggested that the trio adopt this repertoire. As Dave explains, “with no chordal instrument, it was an interesting challenge that demanded some degree of re-interpretation”.

The trio is purpose-made for small, intimate acoustic venues. But what if a club has a Steinway piano? Well, it seemed a shame to eschew this option completely, so the virtuosic Canadian pianist, Sean Fyfe, was added as a guest star on five tunes.

Conversely, adding a second horn with no piano also seemed a fine idea for special occasions, and this is where Martin Shaw came in for four tracks. So, we have 1) a trio, 2) a quartet with piano, 3) a quartet with trumpet, and - why the hell not - 4) a quintet with everyone. Thus, ‘4 in 1’ is not only the Monk-penned tune title, but also expresses the 4 different line-ups on the CD - and, you guessed it, it’s called “4 in 1” (Ubuntu Records)

The band now has done many gigs in its various formats and is on an exciting deep-delve into this amazing, infectious repertoire. Expect a mix of lyrical, probing and playful interpretations of both well-known and rarely heard Monk compositions!

Line up:

Dave O’Higgins - tenor sax

Luke Fowler – d.bass

Billy Pod - drums

Sean Fyfe - piano

Dave O’Higgins now has 26 albums as leader to his credit. His sound is highly personal and recognisable, with a clear sense of melodic development and adventure. A popular performer with the public, with an excellent sense of pacing and presentation, he has a wide palette from Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane and Joe Henderson through to Stanley Turrentine and Michael Brecker. O’Higgins has relentlessly pursued artistic exploration and development always maintaining a deep respect for the tradition of the music. Now with the spotlight on Monk we will get to see yet another feather in Dave’s cap.

“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

After spending his formative years in Perth, Western Australia studying at WAAPA until 2005, Luke Fowler moved to the UK where he has spent the last 18 years. He opened an award-winning jazz venue in South London called ‘The Junction’ which soon became a hub for some of the best musicians in the UK, featuring the likes of Jim Mullen, Dave O’Higgins, Alex Garnett plus some of the new younger sensations coming out of London, including Mark Kavuma, Emma Rawicz and Rob Luft. The Junction was voted in the Guardian’s ‘Top 10 music Pubs in the UK’. After recently graduating with his master’s in jazz performance at London’s acclaimed Guildhall of Music in 2020, Luke has been busy running a series of projects which he has presented in and around London. He has a strong sound and infectious beat on his instrument having been inspired by Ray Brown at an early age. His extensive knowledge of harmony makes him an engaging and interesting bassist to listen to and perform with.

After exploding onto the UK jazz scene, Billy Pod has worked with several leading musicians including Jim Mullen, Dave O ’Higgins and Rob Luft, Vasilis Xenopoulos and Mornington Lockett among others. He has recorded more than 20 albums as a sideman/co-leader and has performed in festivals and venues in the EU, the USA and Asia. In 2016 he performed at the Tribeca Performing Arts Centre in New York as a finalist of the “Made In New York” International Jazz Competition and in 2019 he was selected in the list of 'Top 10 new and upcoming drummers' by French ‘Βatterie’ magazine. His debut album “Drums to Heal Society" released in 2019 has not just given him a prominent position among the new generation of drummers internationally but also demonstrated his compelling skills as a composer and music ensemble director. His latest album entitled ‘Quintessence ’was also well received by press, media and audiences during his UK and European tour in 2023.

Pianist Sean Fyfe emerges as a distinguished artist with an impressive international footprint. Noteworthy for his collaborative work on acclaimed recordings such as 'In This Moment' (2022) and 'Opening Statement' (2017) with Sam Kirmayer, as well as 'Conduit' (2014) featuring Azar Lawrence with Al McLean, his debut album 'Late Night' (2022), and his most recent release 'Stepping Stones' (2024). A product of the esteemed Manhattan School of Music and McGill University, Fyfe refined his skills under the mentorship of pianists Jeremy Manasia, Garry Dial, Andre White, and Joshua Rager. His performances have left an indelible mark on iconic venues across Canada, New York, Europe and the UK. Fyfe's collaborative endeavors span continents, featuring partnerships with acclaimed musicians such as Evan Sherman, Alex Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Andre White, Dave Laing, Adrian Vedady, Sam Kirmayer, Dave O’Higgins, Matt Fishwick, Josh Morrison, Matt Home, Jeremy Brown, and Alex Garnett. Grounded in the traditions of jazz luminaries like Bill Evans, Bobby Timmons, Wynton Kelly, and Cedar Walton, Fyfe's artistry resonates with a profound appreciation for the genre's heritage.

www.daveohiggins.com

www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/luke-fowler/

www.billypod.com

www.seanfyfemusic.com

Media patronage: Londynek.net