Darius Brubeck – piano
Dave O’Higgins – sax
Matt Ridley – bass
Wesley Gibbens – drums
Following the success of the CD “CATHY’S SUMMER” featuring many new Darius Brubeck compositions, The Darius Brubeck Quartet will be again offering new music. The concerts usually include standard and South African jazz and ever-popular Dave Brubeck music too.
Dave O’Higgins with his great range of feeling and skill excels playing this varied repertoire with the rhythm trio of Darius, Matt and Wes, who have been together for 10 years. Their mutual understanding and interaction is always a pleasure to see and hear.
Playing to sold-out houses at regional festivals and clubs, including London’s Ronnie Scott’s, their acoustic sound is melodic, spontaneous, rhythmic and engaging.
In the second half of 2015, the quartet played in Germany and Ireland and was featured on BBC’s “Jazz Line” live at the Edinburgh Festival.
Reviewing the group in JAZZ JOURNAL at the Llandudno Jazz Festival on August 03, 2015, Brian Payne writes “Darius Brubeck ….was professional to a tee. Once he was satisfied (with the sound) the band was off like a rocket. With Dave O’Higgins on sax, the excellent Matt Ridley on double bass and Wesley Gibbens driving the drums, they took the audience on a flawless ride through a catalogue of original compositions and Dave Brubeck back numbers.
Tim Dickeson covering the Amser Jazz Time Festival wrote:
‘He (Darius) showed without doubt that he is a highly accomplished pianist and composer-but Dave O’Higgins must take huge credit for his contribution (as should Ridley & Gibbens) – as the combination of Brubeck and O’Higgins is certainly among the best piano/sax partnerships in the UK.’
JAZZWISE MAY 2015