The Highgate Jazz with Soul Festival won’t take place this summer, the festival director London-based Australian saxophonist Brandon Allen has announced.

He mentioned his change of tack to Marlbank during downtime at a jam session in London’s Vortex club earlier this month when he was featured soloist with Hannes ‘the Grim’ Riepler’s band. A statement on the largely pub-based north London festival’s website confirms the news: “I have decided to take a break to regroup and return in 2017 with a bigger and better festival,” he says.

Allen meanwhile continues to tour as a member of bassist Kyle Eastwood’s band, a high profile presence on the international circuit, and is a regular host at the Late Late Show in Ronnie Scott’s where he is a popular fixture among the roster of leaders downstairs helping shape and contribute to the ongoing jams, his Dexter Gordon-like sound at the heart of the deeply embedded high quality UK retro hard bop scene that continues a tradition in creative transition. 

Tonight he is one of the three big-name tenors appearing as guests of pianist Dave Newton’s trio for an arts centre gig in the West Country.

Hard bop the highway: Brandon Allen, above