Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft present their second co-led programme, three years after O’Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane. Here they extend their performance with additional original compositions by each band leader alongside Monk and Coltrane hits that evolved naturally on the road during a 50 date European tour in 2019.

This is straight-ahead modern jazz in the African-American tradition, clearly coming from the Monk and Trane lineage, but not bound to emulating it. You will hear Luft easily morphing Wes Montgomery with Bill Frisell, his own trademark soundscapes and worldly influences, while O’Higgins’ emotive melodies evoke Dexter, Trane, Joe Henderson and Brecker, with a melodic logic of his own.

In addition to these extremely talented co-leaders, the band includes an all-star line-up consisting of:

Ross Stanley / piano
Misha Mullov-Abbado / bass
Rod Youngs / drums

O’Higgins & Luft — Dave O’Higgins (daveohiggins.com)