Ubuntu Music Signs Gifted Bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado for Album Release

Misha Mullov-Abbado / Effra

Release Date: 31st January 2025

CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0185

Misha Mullov-Abbado (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of award-winning London-based jazz bass player, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado for the release of Effra, his next project, on 31st January 2025.

Effra is Misha’s fourth album as a bandleader and is a collection of all the music he has written in the last four years for his band of over a decade now. The word is often associated with the area of Brixton in South London which has been his home almost as long as the band has existed. It began as the name of a now-underground river that runs through the area and has more recently been used as the name of a main road and two rival pubs, as well as a smaller road which one of his tracks is named after. The album is an expression of Misha’s love for both his home and for playing jazz after a difficult period in previous years, and these pieces reflect all the personal journeys in that time.

Sam Rapley, Liam Dunachie, Misha Mullov-Abbado, Matthew Herd, Scott Chapman, James Davison (Photographer: Matthew Johnson)

Misha’s quintet consists of an exceptional array of musicians, who happen to be based in London: award-winning trumpet/flugelhorn ace James Davison, alto/tenor sax man Matthew Herd, tenor saxophone & bass clarinet player Sam Rapley, pianist Liam Dunachie and drummer Scott Chapman.

Misha further explains the project: “The album contains eight original pieces written for my regular jazz sextet. The record goes on a musical journey combining many different influences from traditional jazz to swing to Brazilian samba to classical music to minimalism to modern and obscure. It is unified by the sound of the group playing together with an incredible horn section which often sounds about three times bigger, as well as inventive improvising from all members of the band. This is dedicated to Brixton, the diverse melting pot of all the sights and sounds of the exciting and vibrant city of London, where I have lived all my life.”

Liam Dunachie, Matthew Herd, Misha Mullov-Abbado, Scott Chapman, James Davison, Sam Rapley (Photographer: Matthew Johnson)

Misha comments on his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I am super happy to be working with Martin (Hummel) and everyone at Ubuntu Music. Martin has been extremely supportive of all my music-making in the past five years and already very helpful with all things to do with this project since we first discussed shortly after recording it. I am lucky to have appeared on several Ubuntu releases in recent years and so have witnessed for myself the practical ease and good-natured exchanges that take place in a successful album release for a touring band.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I’ve been seriously impressed with Misha’s compositional and performance skills for a number of years now. He’s developed his own voice, while giving breathing space to his distinguished partners to express themselves seamlessly within an exceptional quintet framework. Misha’s music takes us on a multi-cultural journey, while always reassuring us that home is just around the corner. It’s a delight to bring ‘Effra’ to the world stage for all to enjoy. We’re honoured to be a part of the journey as we welcome Misha and his musicians to the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Misha Mullov-Abbado/Artist:  misha.ma@hotmail.co.uk

Emma Perry/Emma Perry PR (UK PR):  emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

BIOGRAPHIES:

“An unfailing inventive, artfully produced, and delightfully sunny debut”

The Telegraph on New Ansonia (UK)

“It will not be many years before Misha becomes one of the world’s leading

figures in music”

La Jornada (Mexico)

“Both his composing talents and his propulsive bass-playing are currently such

hot UK jazz news”

The Guardian (UK)

“Soul-enhancing jazz”

BBC Radio 3 on the Misha Mullov-Abbado Group

“A mouthwatering prospect”

Jazzwise on the Misha Mullov-Abbado Group

The Misha-Mullov-Abbado Group (Photographer: Matthew Johnson)

The Misha Mullov-Abbado Group is made up of some of the finest, multi-award-winning musicians in London and, under Misha’s direction, the group performs his original compositions and arrangements with a broad variety of influences. The band has performed at a broad range of prestigious jazz and classical festivals across the UK, as well as undertaking overseas ventures to France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and Mexico. London highlights include the Southbank Centre, King’s Place, Vortex and Barbican Centre.

Having been signed to Edition Records since 2014, the group released Dream Circus, produced by fellow Edition Records bass player and bandleader Jasper Høiby. The band previously released Cross-Platform Interchange (2017) and New Ansonia, the latter of which was included in “Best Jazz Albums 2015” by both The Telegraph and BBC Radio 3. All of the band’s releases have received an overwhelming amount of praise, and the group appears regularly on Radio 3 and Jazz FM.

The band’s repertoire is influenced by a broad spectrum of music in the classical, jazz and pop genres as well folk traditions from around the world, particularly from South America. Misha’s music contains chorale-based and contemporary styles that are influenced by classical giants from Bach to Bartok and beyond, and also pays tribute to jazz and groove-based music including swing, samba, funk and fusion. As a bass-led band, Avishai Cohen, Ray Brown and Charles Mingus are all important role models for this exciting sextet.

Having originally met while studying together this ensemble of old friends has a lot of history of working together in many different combinations and bands. Many of them have their own projects performing their own incredible and unique music and all play in variety of successful groups such as the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, Seafarers, and Alfa Mist.

Misha Mullov-Abbado (double bass)

Award-winning, London-based jazz bass player, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado is a musician who combines great imagination with raw talent and a clear vision. A BBC New Generation Artist and with three critically acclaimed albums on Edition Records under his name, his most recent offering, Dream Circus, showcases his ‘melodic gift’ (John Fordham, The Guardian) and ability to masterfully combine beautifully crafted compositions with free-spirited improvisation. Written over a three-year period, the album (produced by fellow Edition Records bassist and bandleader Jasper Høiby of Phronesis) marks the arrival of an artist who has been on a voyage of self-discovery.

His aforementioned collective features some of the most exhilarating and sought-after young musicians in London and was formed during Misha’s final year at Royal Academy of Music. An experienced bandleader and versatile sideman, Misha regularly performs all over the UK and around the world, including at top London venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, the Vortex, King’s Place and Royal Albert Hall. His vast musical travels have led him to work alongside inspiring musicians such as Alice Zawadzki, Dave O’Higgins, Fred Thomas, Tim Garland, Viktoria Mullova, Enzo Zirilli, Sam Lee, Rob Luft, Paul Clarvis, Stan Sulzmann and Nessi Gomes. In 2024 he was part of Za Górami, a release on ECM Records in a trio with Alice Zawadzki and Fred Thomas which was The Guardian's Jazz album of the month.

A prolific composer and arranger in his own right, Misha embraces his jazz, classical, pop and folk influences and writes for a variety of jazz groups, as well as various classical soloists and ensembles. Commissions include work with the Hermes Experiment, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, LSSO, Hill Quartet, Pelleas Ensemble, NW Live Arts and BBC Radio 3, the latter of which commissioned his cello concerto which was premiered at London’s Southbank Centre by Matthew Barley and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

It’s only a matter of time before Misha seals his place on the international scene at the forefront of a new generation of European creative jazz musicians.

James Davison (trumpet)

Winner of the Worshipful Company of Musicians Young Jazz Musician of the year (2018) and the Smith-Watkins Trumpet Award (Royal Academy of Music, 2016) James Davison is now pursuing a busy and varied freelance career. He is currently Lead Trumpet with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and performs regularly with the BBC Big Band, Pete Long’s Echoes of Ellington Orchestra, the Louis Dowdeswell Big Band and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. James’ classical and orchestral career highlights include performances as Guest Principal Trumpet with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera and the Hallé Orchestra, as well as tours and recordings with the Sinfonia of London and London Brass. James is also a member of the award-winning Misha Mullov-Abbado Group as well as his own bands -  “Quintet-a-tete” co-led with Grammy nominated arranger and trombone player Callum Au, and "The Davison/Hemstock Quintet" with Australian clarinet and saxophonist Duncan Hemstock.

Matthew Herd (alto saxophone)

Matthew Herd is a Scottish songwriter, composer, and saxophonist living in east London. He

writes for and performs with Seafarers, a band that unites some of the most prominent voices in folk and improvised music. Their debut album, Orlando, was released in 2020 to international acclaim, and was followed by the much lauded II in 2022. Matthew can be found performing with the Misha Mullov-Abbado Group. Also, in trio with Will Glaser and Liam Noble, and in duo with pianist Tom Taylor. From time to time, he plays with DJ Yoda, and the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra. Matthew is Musician in Residence at Habs Boys’ School and co-directs the Habs Jazz Summer School.

Sam Rapley (tenor saxophone)

Sam Rapley is a composer and saxophonist living and working in the UK. He writes distinctive, unique and ear-catching music for film, television and games, and is at the forefront of the UK jazz scene as a saxophonist and clarinettist, having studied jazz performance and composition at the Royal Academy of Music. His band ‘Fabled' released their debut album Short Stories to critical acclaim in 2018 and subsequently performed across the UK as part of an Arts Council funded tour, including performances at London’s Wigmore Hall, Pizza Express Jazz Club and Manchester’s Band on the Wall. The album was featured in Jazzwise magazine and has been played regularly on BBC Radio 3. As a sideman, Rapley performs regularly with Alfa Mist, Waaju, Misha Mullov-Abbado and Maria Chiara Argirò, and with these bands has played extensively throughout the UK at venues such as The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Maida Vale Studios and The Jazz Cafe, as well as touring across Europe and further afield to Australia, Mexico and Thailand.

Liam Dunachie (piano)

Originally from Shropshire, Liam Dunachie began his musical training as a treble chorister in Hereford Cathedral Choir and later studied music at Trinity College, Cambridge where he was a choral scholar in its world-renowned choir under Stephen Layton. After graduating from Cambridge, Liam won a scholarship to study jazz piano and arranging at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he studied with Malcolm Edmonstone, Nikki Iles and Scott Stroman among others. He has since gone on to play piano and Hammond organ in groups led by Jim Mullen, Dennis Rollins, Derek Nash, Nigel Price and Postmodern Jukebox's vocalist Aubrey Logan among others. He has performed at all of London's major jazz and commercial venues and many others across the UK, including Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express Dean St, Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage, Wembley Arena, The Royal Festival Hall, The Palladium and many more.

Scott Chapman (drums)

Scott Chapman is a professional freelance and session drummer based in London whose versatility behind the kit has forged him a varied career and reputation of being able to cover many musical situations. He gained a strong musical grounding playing classic big band repertoire with ex-professionals every week in his younger years. Aged only sixteen, he became the principal drummer for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and later was given a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London to study on the undergraduate jazz course. Shortly after graduating in 2014 with a First-Class honours degree and a Yamaha Jazz Scholarship Award, Scott was picked up to join the tour of major hit musical Wicked and since then he has performed as a deputy for the London production and a handful of other major West End shows, as well as for the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. He is also involved in notable projects at the forefront of the UK jazz scene such as the Misha Mullov-Abbado Group and the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra, and as an able percussionist he has performed as an onstage actor/musician in the West End production of Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined in 2015-16, and toured with Sheridan Smith in 2018.

REVIEW: O'Higgins & Luft

London Jazz News’ Graham Spry gives a big thumbs up to the partners’ second release on Ubuntu Music.

Ubuntu Music Signs Composer Paul Mottram for Release of Epic Project ft. Tim Garland & Jason Rebello

Paul Mottram / Seven Ages of Man

Release Date: 6th October 2023

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0140

Paul Mottram (Photographer: Julian Hubbard)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of composer Paul Mottram, for the release of a major project that blends jazz and classical music within a fascinating project concept.

Seven Ages of Man is a large-scale concert work scored for Jazz Sextet and String Orchestra which weaves jazz improvisation and grooves within a tight thematically developed classical structure. Organised by the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ concept from medieval art and literature, it forms an atmospheric personal reflection on the stages of a single human life cycle, taking cues from Shakespeare’s description of life in terms of characters from a play: Infant, Schoolboy, Lover, Soldier, Judge, Pantaloon and the Second Childhood of Old Age.

Abbey Road / Studio 1, London

The large string section projects a real sense of scale and emotional depth to the piece both supporting and integrated with the Jazz Sextet.

The work was written for acclaimed jazz musician and long-standing friend Tim Garland (soprano/tenor sax and bass clarinet) who performs as the principal soloist, and it alsofeatures Jason Rebello on piano and Jonny Mansfield on vibraphone.

Tim Garland

Paul describes how he conceived the highly ambitious project: “Writing ‘Seven Ages of Man’ was an incredible opportunity to bring together all the strands of my musical persona. I could draw on my background as a classical musician steeped in Jazz, fused with a media composer’s ear for conveying the emotions of a story through music. It’s always been an ambition of mine to write a classically structured long form jazz composition for Tim Garland, who’s been a friend and an inspiration since we met at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in the 80s. It’s been a privilege to assemble such a distinguished band of musicians with Jason Rebello (piano) and Jonny Mansfield (vibraphone) also taking soloing roles. Ralph Salmins (drums), Misha Mullov-Abbado (bass) and Paul Clarvis (percussion) complete the Jazz Sextet. I didn’t compromise either with the size of the string orchestra line up, contracted by Isobel Griffiths, and that with recording in the wonderful acoustic of Abbey Road Studio 1 gives the whole album a real sense of scale, something I was after from the outset.”

Tim Garland and Paul Mottram

Paul continues, describing the relationship with his new record label: “In Ubuntu Music, it feels great to have found such an excellent and welcoming home for the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ album. The hybrid musical style of the piece is hard to quantify in the classical/ jazz spectrum but at its’ core the principal soloists of the piece are jazz musicians of the highest order and that sits well with the fine roster of talent on the label. The stylistic breadth of the catalogue also leads me to believe that ‘Seven Ages’ will fit right in with the broad ‘no boundaries’ vision that Martin Hummel has for Ubuntu.”

Paul Mottram

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, gives his parting thoughts: “I was absolutely blown away by the scale, the quality and the inherent appeal of this project, in every single aspect - from the concept, to the compositions, to the musicians, to the quality of the recording itself. Paul is meticulous in his craftsmanship, paying considerable attention to each and every detail. And it’s clearly evident in the end result. Having world class musicians like Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, personal heroes of mine, makes this project even more special. This is a genre-defining release that’s certain to reward both classical and jazz fans alike. We cannot wait to ultimately bring this project to live audiences, whenever and wherever possible. It’s a pleasure to be a part of something so special, and to welcome Paul, the outstanding musicians in the sextet and the exceptional string orchestra into the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Paul Mottram (Artist):  paul@paulmottram.com

Emma Perry (UK Publicity):  emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):  martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

WEBSITES

https://paulmottram.com/

https://www.weareubuntumusic.com/

https://www.ubuntumanagementgroup.com/

PAUL MOTTRAM BIOGRAPHY

Paul Mottram has forged an extremely successful career as one of the most prolific and versatile media composers in the UK, with an enviable back catalogue of compositions. His ability to cut to the emotional heart of the subject matter with a sophisticated melodic multi-layered compositional style has also enabled him to deliver concert music which resonates deeply with the audience.

Classically trained as a violinist, pianist and composer at the Royal College of Music, Cambridge University and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Paul quickly began working as an orchestrator on films such as Chaplin, Shirley Valentine and Rain Man. Later, moving into commercials, he also started writing music for BBC radio 4 shows in the 90s, such as In the Red and Babblewick Hall, and television, with the hit spoof documentary series People Like Us (1999).

As one of the founder composers at production music library Audio Network in the early 2000s, Paul began producing a prodigious line of albums which continues to this day (his latest album, Intimate Canvas, came out on streaming platforms in February 2023). You would be hard pressed to watch an evening’s television without hearing his compositions, featured in 100s of shows such as The Great British Bake Off, The Apprentice, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, The Crown, QI, Big Mouth, Travel Man and Upstart Crow. His music has also been featured in films such as Bad Santa and The Bee Movie and cinematic trailers such as for the Oscar winning film, Blue Jasmine. 

A fascination with Jazz has always had a major impact on Paul’s concert music output. Over the years he has written for musicians such as The Swingle Singers, The Underground Orchestra, Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Superbrass and the Dunedin Consort. Moccasin Trail was written for saxophonist John Harle’s band and features on ‘The John Harle Collection: Vol 15’ and a saxophone/ piano version was premiered by John at a Wigmore Hall recital broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2015, the song cycle Falls, (initially commissioned and performed by the Dunedin Consort) was performed at the Snape Maltings by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and his Gospel Jazz composition for choir with rhythm section Come Spirit was premiered by the Chapter House Choir in York Minster.

Seven Ages of Man, a new 70-minute suite and album written for world class jazz musicians Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, is Paul’s biggest and most ambitious work yet and a remarkable synthesis of his classical, jazz and media music roots. Writing to his own brief, the work has enabled him to explore the intersection between his musical worlds and write something on a grander and more profound scale.

Ubuntu Music to Release Drummer Enzo Zirilli’s Next Album

Enzo Zirilli’s ZiroBop / Ten Past Never

Release Date: 3rd February 2023

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0128

Enzo Zirilli (Photographer: Roberto Cifarelli)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Ten Past Never, from the dynamic Italian drummer, Enzo Zirilli and his quartet, Enzo Zirilli’s ZiroBop, on 3rd February 2023.

Enzo is considered one of the most creative and versatile drummers/percussionists of the last generation, within the international world of contemporary music. Since 1990, when he began as a professional, his collaborations have been considerable in the fields of Jazz, Pop and World Music.

In 2004, Enzo moved to London where he immediately established himself as one of the most in-demand musicians on the London scene. He has collaborated with a broad range of artists, including Dado Moroni, Enrico Pieranunzi, Jim Mullen, George Garzone, Tom Harrell, Bob Mintzer, Ian Shaw, Omar Lye Fook, Gloria Gaynor, Hamish Stuart, Liane Carroll, Flavio Boltro, Nico Di Battista, James Moody, Gary Bartz, Peter Bernstein, Marco Pereira, Antonio Forcione, Gilad Atzmon, Brandon Allen, Tony Kofi, Quentin Collins, Stan Sulzmann, John Etheridge and Jason Rebello.

Enzo Zirilli (Photographer: Carlo Mogavero)

Enzo formed ZiroBop, his own band, in 2013 with rising star guitarists Rob Luft and Alessandro Chiappetta, along with the gifted bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado. Enzo returned to Italy and Turin (his home town) in 2020, following his appointment as professor of Jazz Drums and Percussion Chair at the Conservatory G.Verdi. In Bruino, Italy, Ten Past Never was recorded on 9th April 2022.

Enzo describes the project: “ZiroBop was born in 2013 in London, when I met the very talented Rob Luft, Alessandro Chiappetta and Misha Mullov-Abbado. The music we play on this album, like in the previous two, mirrors my idea and our collective idea of playing music at 360 degrees, getting deep inside all the jazz languages, from the very early days through the modal and post avant-garde mood, mixed with influences from Indian, South American and eastern world music.”

Rob Luft is an award-winning 28-year-old jazz guitarist from London whose virtuosity has been compared to that of six-string legends John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola & Paco De Lucia. Italian guitarist Alessandro Chiappetta is a sought-after musician in his country, while London-based multiple prize-winning bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado rounds out the quartet.

Left to right: Foreground--Enzo Zirilli. Background--Rob Luft, Misha Mullov-Abbado, Alessandro Chiappetta (Photographer: Roberto Cifarelli)

Enzo continues: “Apart from our own original compositions, you can find songs by Steve Swallow, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Mariano, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Hermeto Pascoal, Charlie Parker, as well as Enrico Pieranunzi, with whom I have been collaborating for more than 20 years, and the late Italian songwriter Pino Daniele. I love combining energy and power with just pure, beautiful melody.”

The accolades for this ZiroBop music partnership have been considerable:

"I love this music! Enzo and his great band approach a wide range of material

with such creativity, taste and soulfulness. A beautiful album."

--LARRY GOLDINGS

"Great music from drum maestro Enzo Zirilli's band, Zirobop"

--JIM MULLEN

"These four artists really play, breathe and fly together, bringing their personal experiences into the notes, but combining them into a fantastic mix of influences."

--DADO MORONI

"This is a great recording by four exceptional musicians! A unique and varied repertoire beautifully rendered by this special group. Fantastic guitar playing by Rob Luft and Alessandro Chiappetta and an amazing foundation of different grooves laid down by Misha Mullov-Abbado on bass and the leader Enzo Zirilli on drums. Everyone here is playing on the highest level. This is a recording that shows the maturity and adventurousness of all involved! "

--PETER BERNSTEIN

"I enjoyed ZiroBop immensely. I liked the fact that you were willing to play so many ballads. Love the texture of the two guitars and there's so much you can achieve sonically with all the pedals available.”

--HAMISH STUART

Enzo Zirilli (Photographer: Marco Floris/AFIJ)

Concerning his new-found partnership with Ubuntu Music, Enzo explains: “I’m very delighted to collaborate, for the first time as a leader, with Ubuntu Music, a few years after I appeared on the label as a sideman with QCBA, featuring Quentin Collins (trumpet), Brandon Allen (sax) and Ross Stanley (Hammond organ). Label boss Martin Hummel is a real jazz lover and he created many beautiful productions over the last five years, with loads of talented musicians involved. It’s a great label and we are in good company!”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I always believed it was simply a matter of time before we would have the opportunity to work with Enzo and his dynamic project. I’ve been an admirer of his talent for quite a while and Enzo has appeared on three previous Ubuntu releases. Guitarist Rob Luft makes his fourth Ubuntu appearance, and it will be bassist’s Misha Mullov-Abbado’s second appearance on the label. Guitarist Alessandro Chiappetta is the new kid on the block for us and we welcome him with open arms. ‘Ten Past Never’ is one to savour and we are so happy they are with the Ubuntu Music family!”

For further information, please contact:

Enzo Zirilli (Artist): zirobopnew@gmail.com

Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

Ubuntu Music Announces The Release of Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft’s Second Album

O’Higgins & Luft / Pluto

Release date: 4th November 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0126

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Pluto, from the exceptionally talented pairing of O’Higgins & Luft, on 4th November 2022.

Saxophonist Dave O’Higgins and guitarist Rob Luft present their second co-led recording, three years after “O’Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane”. Where the first album clearly did what it says on the tin, Pluto, as the title suggests, comes from another place. Seven of the nine songs are original compositions by each band leader, and the remaining two pieces are Monk and Coltrane hits that evolved naturally on the road during a 50 date European tour in 2019.

Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft (Photographer: Judith O’Higgins)

The sonority has changed a little, too, as the Hammond organ of the first album is replaced with acoustic piano and double bass. 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

Rob and Dave describe the latest project in their own words. Rob begins: "I'm so happy to be working with the great Dave O'Higgins on this second collaborative effort. Whilst the banner of O'Higgins & Luft might somewhat resemble the name of a lawyer's firm, it actually represents an incredibly fruitful artistic collaboration over the past five years! Working with Dave has helped me remain firmly grounded to the swinging roots of jazz, with our frontline blend of tenor sax and guitar clearly coming out of the hard-bop tradition, echoing the sound-world of Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane, Grant Green & Joe Henderson, or George Benson & Stanley Turrentine."

And Dave continues: "The second collaboration with Rob was a very natural progression from the ‘Plays Monk & Trane’ album. We wanted to make our own compositional mark, whilst maintaining the straight-ahead orientation, and drawing from our extensive 2019 touring experience together with 50 shows. The process was incredibly quick, easy and natural once we’d got our dates aligned!"

Left to right: Rob Luft, Rod Youngs, Dave O’Higgins (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Concerning their continued relationship with Ubuntu Music, Rob shares his perspective: "Working with the team at Ubuntu Music is always a joy and a total privilege for me. I've been involved both as a sideman and a leader over the past few years with this label, and it now feels like a kind of extended family to me! I can only offer my gratitude to Martin for believing so resolutely in our music."

And Dave picks up where Rob left off: "It’s always a pleasure to do a project with Martin for Ubuntu. When I call him up he always says, “yes, that sounds great, let’s do it!”, so I hope to repay the faith! The Ubuntu roster is a nice eclectic place to be. I’m very proud to be on the label."

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “What can I possibly say about these two guys that hasn’t been said before? Each is at the pinnacle of his respective professional career. The rhythm section is as good as it gets. You put this all together and you have an unbeatable collection of musicians who have deep respect for the jazz masters, but which is expressed in their own distinctive voices. ‘Pluto’ an irresistible audio cocktail for the senses. We are absolutely honoured to have Dave and Rob continue within our Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Dave O’Higgins (Artist)                                             ohig@mac.com

Rob Luft (Artist)                                                         rob.jazz@live.com

Emma Perry (UK Publicity)                                       emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

BIOGRAPHIES

Dave O’Higgins

Saxophonist Dave O’Higgins 24th album as leader Pluto (Ubuntu 2022) is just about to be released. The last Ubuntu release That’s the Way to Live (2021) has had great reviews in the Observer, Jazzwise, BBC Magazine and many online jazz sites. In 2017 It’s Always 9:30 in Zog was nominated for best CD (British Jazz Awards) and Dave for best tenor saxophonist. O’Higgins & Luft were nominated for best band in 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Dave serves on the faculty at the London College of Contemporary Media. He currently performs with the Harvey / O’Higgins Project, O’Higgins & Luft, Darius Brubeck Quartet, and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. In addition, Dave worked with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Joey Calderazzo, Joe Locke, Dave Kikowski, Eric Alexander, Max Ionata, Joe Lovano, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Eddie Gomez, Billy Childs, Abdullah Ibrahim, Jim Mullen, Martin Taylor and Stephane Grappelli. Dave also wrote and produced the 2017 Matt Bianco album, Gravity, and tours with the band as saxophonist and musical director.

Dave’s saxophone sound and language draw from deep respect for Dexter, Stitt, Coltrane, Mobley, Turrentine and Brecker amongst a host of other inspirations from early on to the present day.

“A stunning player in the neo-bop vein, with an apparently effortless flow of coherent ideas, beautiful time and a highly developed harmonic sense.”

--JAZZ GUIDE (UK)

“His professional presentation was an object lesson to the amateurishness of local players.  His musicianship seemed boundless. Like his friend Martin Taylor did last year to our guitarists, Dave O’Higgins did to our sax players – gave them new and exciting challenges.  And gave us mere listeners an exceptional night.”

--ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, AUSTRALIA

“O’Higgins plays with quite exceptional fluency and his fund of ideas never runs out.”

--THE OBSERVER (UK)

www.daveohiggins.com

Rob Luft

Rob is an award-winning 28-year-old jazz guitarist from London whose virtuosity has been compared to that of six-string legends John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola & Paco De Lucia. 

He was the recipient of the 2016 Kenny Wheeler Prize from the Royal Academy of Music, and he also received the 2nd Prize in the 2016 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival, adjudicated by John McLaughlin himself. His debut album was released to widespread acclaim from the European jazz media, with The Guardian describing it as a “very sophisticated debut, but given Luft’s old-soul achievements since his early teens, we should have heard it coming”. Subsequently, on the back of the success of his first album, Rob was nominated for a string of awards – Breakthrough Act in the 2018 Jazz FM Awards, Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2019 Jazz FM Awards. In May 2019, Rob was selected as a BBC New Generation Jazz Artist 2019-2022. Amongst the intermittent global lockdowns of 2020, Rob made his debut appearance on the famed German jazz label ECM Records with the album “Lost Ships, a collaborative effort with Swiss-Albanian singer Elina Duni, and this was nominated in the ‘International Album of the Year’ category in the 2021 German Jazz Prize.

Despite his relative youth, Rob has worked with many greats of the jazz world, such as Manu Katché, The Cinematic Orchestra, Django Bates & Arve Henriksen, and he is a regular member of some of the UK's finest modern jazz groups, such as the John Surman Quartet, the Iain Ballamy Quintet and Byron Wallen’s “Four Corners”, Additionally, his playing has been documented on a wide variety of albums over the past five years on important jazz labels such as ECM Records, Edition Records, Ropeadope, and many more.

"...a singular talent, a fluent improviser and a composer of catchy, earthy, infectiously upbeat tunes. There are echoes of west African high-life, English folk, indie rock and various strands of contemporary jazz, but Luft’s sound is joyously original, robust and in-your-face..." THE ---IRISH TIMES (IRE)

“So young and so talented!” 

--JAMIE CULLUM, BBC RADIO 2 (UK)

"Luft's style is a garden of heavenly delights, but it is also his own: once heard, you won't confuse him with any other player."

--ALL ABOUT JAZZ (USA)

https://robluft.co.uk/