Dave O’Higgins (born 1 September 1964, Birmingham, England) is a British jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator, and producer known primarily for his work on tenor and soprano saxophone. Emerging on the UK jazz scene in the 1980s, he has become one of the most respected hard-bop–influenced saxophonists in modern British jazz.
O’Higgins played in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra early in his career and later performed with guitarist Martin Taylor and guitarist Jim Mullen, helping establish his reputation as a versatile improviser. His style draws on classic jazz saxophone traditions—from Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon to John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Michael Brecker.
Beyond performing, he has worked as a composer, recording engineer, and educator, teaching jazz at institutions such as the London College of Contemporary Media. He has also collaborated widely with artists across jazz and pop, including Matt Bianco, Jason Rebello, Jamie Cullum, Matthew Herbert, Eric Alexander, and others.
Music
1986 - No Limits – Mezzoforte
1989 - For Madmen Only – Roadside Picnic
1993 – All Good Things (EFZ)
1994 – Beats Working for a Living (EFZ)
1994 - Spirit of Django
1995 – Under the Stone (EFZ)
1996 – The Secret Ingredient (EFZ)
1996 - Years Apart
1999 – The Grinder’s Monkey (Short Fuse)
2000 - Gypsy
2001 – Big Shake Up – Dave O’Higgins’ Biggish Band (Candid)
2002 – Fast Foot Shuffle (Candid)
2002 - Pointless Nostalgic – (Jamie Cullum)
2003 - Goodbye Swingtime – (Matthew Herbert)
2004 – Push (Short Fuse)
2005 - Ruby Blue – (Róisín Murphy)
2006 - Now – (Kyle Eastwood)
2008 – In the Zone (Jazzizit)
2009 – Sketchbook
2010 – Relaxin’ at Mount Lavinia (JVG)
2011 – The Devil’s Interval (with Eric Alexander)
2012 – Got the Real Note (with the Gascoyne/O’Higgins Quartet)
2012 - Upside Down – (Jazzanova)
2013 – Two Minds Big Band
2014 – Standards
2014 – The Real Note Vol. 2 (with the Gascoyne/O’Higgins Quartet)
**2015 – Oh Gee! ** (Barnes/O’Higgins & the Sax Section)
2015 – The Abstract Truth Big Band
2017 – It’s Always 9:30 in Zog
2018 – Tenors of Our Time
2019 – O’Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane
2020 – His ’n’ Hers
2021 – That’s the Way to Live (Harvey/O’Higgins Project)
2022 – Omicron (His ’n’ Hers)
2022 – Pluto (O’Higgins & Luft)