Dave O’Higgins Biggish Band

Dave returns to the PizzaExpress Live Soho with his 10-piece Biggish Band, originally formed in the early 2000s and winner of the prestigious Peter Whittingham Award for their CD, “Big Shake Up”. Their repertoire showcases a vibrant journey through jazz, featuring everything from New Orleans street beats to swing, funk, and Latin influences. Drawing on this broad spectrum of styles has allowed O'Higgins to expand his ensemble to a 10-piece group, which he proudly refers to as his "dream team." Dave O’Higgins has established themself as one of the UK’s most popular saxophonists over the past 30 years, earning recognition both nationally and internationally. With a distinctive and instantly recognisable style, Dave has released 24 albums as a bandleader, showcasing their mastery of both tenor and soprano saxophone. Their sound is characterised by a personal touch, a clear sense of melodic development, and a spirit of adventure, all underpinned by an expert sense of pacing and presentation. Drawing inspiration from legends such as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, and Michael Brecker, Dave’s musical palette is impressively broad. PizzaExpress Live audiences are already familiar with Dave, whose extended run of sold-out concerts included “The Blue Note Years” and the “Three Tenors” series, featuring the music of Stanley Turrentine, Hank Mobley, and Dexter Gordon. Most recently, Dave delivered two outstanding performances in 2022 and 2023, celebrating the works of the great John Coltrane. Original music and outstanding arrangements, with an all-star group of jazz greats across the generations, make this concert a must for audiences who just love great music, brilliantly performed. "“Dave O’Higgins pieces can be sneaky. They appear to be quite polite, even restrained, but before you know it they have screamed off down a surprise avenue with a sudden change in style”." - The Guardian