Monkin’ Around (Dave O’Higgins, Luke Fowler & Billy Pod), debut album and UK tour dates 2024/25.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Monkin' Around will release their debut album "4 in 1" on October 4th 2024 and have a number of live dates scheduled from September 2024 to February 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

PRESS RELEASE

Monkin’ Around
Dave O’Higgins (tenor saxophone), Luke Fowler (double bass) & Billy Pod (drums)
featuring special guests Sean Fyfe (piano) & Martin Shaw (trumpet)

4 in 1
Ubuntu Music – UBU179
Album release (CD & digital): Friday 4 October 2024

26 September – London, Hampstead Jazz Club

16 October – London, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho (album launch)

16 November – Luton, Bear Club

29 November Chichester Jazz Club

17 February – London, Parakeet, Kentish Town

Monkin’ Around is a new, dynamic trio featuring saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, bassist Luke Fowler and drummer Billy Pod. Their debut recording, 4 in 1, presents an innovative exploration of Thelonious Monk’s repertoire including some little-known gems. The addition of pianist Sean Fyfe and trumpeter Martin Shaw on selected tracks offers listeners four distinct ensemble formats within one album. Dave O’Higgins reflects on the project: “In trio format with no chordal instrument, it was an interesting challenge that demanded some degree of re-interpretation.”

On the recording’s significance Fowler comments: “This is a really exciting project because it allows us to delve into Monk’s jazz cubism and reinterpret it in a fresh, minimalist way.” Pod adds: “Monk’s strong rhythmic ideas create a unique melody of their own, providing a great canvas for us to experiment with and create our own improvisational stories.”

Recorded over two sessions in a live set up, 4 in 1 captures the spontaneous interactions among the musicians. “Everyone in the same room, no headphones, just like we play on a gig,” says O’Higgins. “This is very “old school” and doesn’t allow for things like clinical separation or repairs but, on a good day, it’s often much more intuitive and enjoyable for the musicians.”

Monkin’ Around: http://www.daveohiggins.com/monkin-around-trio

Ubuntu Music: http://www.ubuntumanagementgroup.com & www.weareubuntumusic.com
Ubuntu Music, a division of Ubuntu Management Group, is a progressive recorded music label that is committed to bringing quality, accessible jazz and related music genres to increasingly wider audiences. Our approach includes collaborative efforts with an array of performing artists who have a passion for jazz and who possess unique and diversified talents.

Distribution – The Orchard: http://www.theorchard.com