“A band to default to when fads and fancies have been and gone”
Jazzwise Magazine
Following on from the acclaimed 2012 Jazzizit release ‘Got the Real Note’ bassist Geoff Gascoyne and saxophonist Dave O’Higgins join forces again for another collection of catchy new contrafacts (new compositions based on well known standards) Once again they are joined by Graham Harvey on piano and Sebastiaan de Krom on drums.
The CD opens with the burning minor blues, ‘Darkness’ written by Gascoyne with a sound reminiscent of the Branford Marsalis Quartet. The O’Higgins’ composition ‘Shark Avenue’ is a new contrafact written on the jazz standard ‘Green Dolphin Street‘ with Coltrane substitutions and is a Bossa Nova showcasing O’Higgins‘ elegant soprano playing. Another Gascoyne original ‘Five Moods’ (I’m in the Mood for Love) has an unusual swinging/bossa 5/4 groove and O’Higgins’ composition ‘I Got Arrythmia’ is based on, you guessed it, ‘I Got Rhythm’. There is a traditional rendition of Duke Ellington’s ‘Sophisticated Lady’ plus a lightning fast ‘Broadway’. Other highlights include contrafacts, ‘Embrace’ (Embracable You) and ‘Autopsy’ (Topsy). Gascoyne’s beautiful composition ‘Dedication’ showcases the delicate touch of pianist Graham Harvey and swinging drummer Sebastiaan de Krom flexes his jazz-chops on the O’Higgins composition ‘RSVP’ (based on Invitation).
The nine contrafacts and two standards complete this totally live set which was recorded at Dave's own JVG studio in Brixton, London all in one afternoon.
