Jazz, jazz and all that jazz

The Colombo Jazz Festival scheduled for next month will see top UK saxophonist, Dave O'Higgins, currently working with the Ronnie Scotts Allstars and the BBC Big Band, bringing his own quartet to Sri Lanka. The Festival presented by the Mount Lavinia Hotel in association with CR & FCwill be held at the CR & FC grounds Colombo, from December 7 – 11.

The Dave O’Higgins Quartet boasts of a fine repertoire with a mixture of jazz standards and original tunes all with reference to the great saxophonists including Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson & John Coltrane. Dave has toured Sri Lanka before with Martin Taylor & his own group.

Joining him will be Andrew McCormack (piano) – winner of Rising Star, British Jazz Awards 2006 & recording artist with Dune Records, Arnie Somogyi (double bass) who also plays with Ronnie Scotts Allstars and leads his own group, Ambulance, now recording their second CD and Josh Blackmore (drums) – the new sensation, heard to great effect on the multi-award nominated Curios CD. The best of our local jazz artistes too join in the festivities. Enjoy the perfect ambience, the hippest jazz and a select menu including British cuisine with specially brewed beer all set in a carnival atmosphere under an elegant white marquee.

The Festival is partnered by Jazz Unlimited, The Sunday Times, Daily Mirror, MTV and Yes FM. Entrance is priced at Rs. 300 per person. Tickets will be available at Mount Lavinia Hotel, CR & FC, Café Lavinia and BMICH from December 1.