A sax icon of the UK jazz scene Dave O’Higgins has signed to go-ahead UK indie label  Ubuntu for the first outing of his new band. Expect a release in the autumn. Also on the label’s radar who follows suit is new generation guitarist Rob Luft who joins O’Higgins, drummer Rod Youngs and Belfast organist Scott Flanigan on a project that encompasses the work of Monk and Coltrane.

O’Higgins says: “Rob called me for some ‘blowing’ gigs last year. It wasn’t difficult to find a common repertoire, and a predilection for Monk and Trane tunes was apparent. We had such fun that I suggested trying to get a short tour together and a recording and before we knew it there were 40 dates in the book and a new CD planned with Ubuntu.

“The music we’ve chosen to play focuses on lesser known Monk compositions and some of the songs Coltrane chose to record in the late 50s, more than the usual few Monk tunes and modal Coltrane so often heard. The choice of Scott Flanigan on organ changes our course from the obvious sonority associated with either musician.”