Harvey / O’Higgins Project: That’s the way to live! (UBU0094)
Ubuntu Music is proud to announce the upcoming release of That’s the Way to Live! from the Harvey / O’Higgins Project, which features exceptional pianist Graham Harvey and tenor sax supremo Dave O’Higgins.
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
When four musicians come together with a shared conception of musical values, the result is bigger than the sum of its parts. When the Harvey / O’Higgins Project performs or records, the trust they have in each other allows a great deal of freedom. In fact, it's very liberating as a player to understand their role – not to feel confined by musical responsibilities, but to acknowledge and use them as the foundation for creation.
The musical landscape that the Harvey / O'Higgins Project inhabits is neither innovative nor fashion led. There is however, a thread in jazz that has continued from its origins in the small groups of the swing era, through bebop and up to the present day, that embodies the aesthetic of harmonic integrity ('making the changes') coupled with rhythmic coherence ('being in the pocket'). This is where the Harvey / O'Higgins Project resides.
It's not a lack of creativity that leads us to explore the standard repertoire and forms of jazz. Instead, these forms provide the canvas for improvisation and dialogue. The tradition of jazz provides an infinite horizon to experiment and create. Just as a Bach fugue is open to a myriad of creative interpretations, so is the blues or a great standard.
The band members have known each other for many years now, and it's extremely satisfying to witness such swinging musicians onstage. Swing is at the core of what this Project is all about, with ballad, Latin and groove variations.
THE BAND MEMBERS
The Harvey / O’Higgins Project consists of the following musicians:
Dave O’Higgins (saxophone): Has 22 albums as leader to his credit. In 2017 he made a 34-date UK Tour with the Dave O'Higgins Quartet, promoting “It’s Always 9:30 in Zog” which was nominated best CD (British Jazz Awards) & also in 2017 was nominated best tenor saxophonist. In 2019 undertook a 40-date tour with O’Higgins & Luft. O’Higgins & Luft were nominated best band in 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
On the faculty at the London College of Contemporary Media. Currently performs with the O’Higgins & Luft, Darius Brubeck Quartet, and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. Also worked with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Joey Calderazzo, Joe Locke, Dave Kikowski, Eric Alexander, Joe Lovano, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Kurt Elling, Wayne Shorter, Eddie Gomez, Billy Childs, Abdullah Ibrahim, Jim Mullen, Martin Taylor and Stephane Grappelli. Wrote and produced the 2017 Matt Bianco album, “Gravity”.
Graham Harvey (piano): Graduated from the University of Denver in 1989. He has played everywhere from Ronnie Scott's in London to Birdland in New York, and recorded with George Benson, Aretha Franklin, BBC Big Band and Gregory Porter. Musical Director and co-writer for acclaimed acid jazz band Incognito for 10 years.
In 2006 he became the pianist for American Jazz Singer Stacey Kent and appeared on all of her subsequent albums, including the Grammy nominated 'Breakfast On The Morning Tram'. Since 2016 he has been a faculty member of the LCCM.
Jeremy Brown (bass): One of the most sought-after bass players on the jazz scene, and has played with Brad Melhdau, Art Farmer, Jon Hendricks, Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Mark Turner, Bruce Barth, Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, Lalo Schifrin, Bud Shank, Sammy Nestico, Eliane Elias, Bob Brookmeyer, Peter King, Stan Tracey and Claire Martin. Currently a member of the BBC Big Band.
From 2009-2020 a member of Stacey Kent’s group touring extensively in five continents. He appears on Kent’s last four recordings.
As well as performing, Jeremy is also professor of Jazz Double Bass at the Royal Academy of Music.
Josh Morrison (drums): At 17 he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the USA, and has played with Trish Clowes, Gareth Lockrane, Atila, Anthony Strong, Sara Dowling, Nigel Price, Ant Law, Rob Barron, Gabriel Latchin, Grant Stewart, Eric Alexander and Andrea Pozza. In 2012 joined Stacey Kent’s group.
He has appeared at Ronnie Scott's (London), Birdland (NYC), Blue Note Tokyo, Duc Des Lombards (Paris), Fasching (Stockholm) and Blue Note (Milan).
A lifelong student of the music and has a deep passion for the jazz tradition. Some of his biggest influences include Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Billy Higgins, Art Blakey, Max Roach (who has a park named after him in Brixton), and many more.
THE RECORDING ETHOS
Dave & Judith O’Higgins have run a tiny studio from their home for the last 10 years in pursuit of recording the jazz-making process with as much natural authenticity as possible. Everyone playing in the same room & blending to the acoustics as they would on a live gig makes the process seem very natural and organic and helps to gel the swing feel and dynamics in a way that it’s hard to simulate when 100% reliant on headphone monitoring. A preference for high end ribbon mics and quality preamps and using room “spill” to recreate the real ambience, make the recording aesthetic something entirely different to the “rock’n’roll” studio approach, and far more akin to the way they made the classic Blue Note recordings of the early 60s. Of course, this expects more from the musicians’ performance, as repairs after the event are not possible. Dave sees through the mixing & mastering process, too, with this aesthetic in mind.
THE NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH UBUNTU MUSIC
Dave and Graham explain: “We’re very excited about our new quartet project, which is very much a collaborative effort with all four players bringing tunes & creative input to the table. Big thanks to Martin Hummel, the indefatigable Ubuntu boss, for believing in it & signing us.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “This is a logical progression in the relationship that began with Dave and guitarist Rob Luft. From there, it was Dave and Judith O’Higgins, with ‘His’n’Hers. To top things off, it’s now the Harvey / O’Higgins Project. These guys are the real deal, with straight-ahead, take-no-prisoners bebop at its finest. The album, ‘That’s the Way to Live!’, is a treasure chest of musical delights for everyone who enjoys the real swing.”
