Steve Nelson Quartet + NEJQ

Monday 16th June - Wednesday 18th June
£20.00 - £36.00

Information on The Northern European Jazz Quartet

Frode Nymo – alto saxophone
Dave O’Higgins – tenor & soprano saxophone
Torbjörn Zetterberg – bass
Håkon Mjåset Johansen - drums

In June and July 2008, Dave will join forces with two Norwegian musicians, Håkon M. Johansen (drums), Frode Nymo (alto sax), and a Swede, Torbjörn Zetterberg (bass), to form the exciting collaboration going out as The Northern European Jazz Quartet. This group will be performing in England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden & South Africa and possibly recording an album.

Dave has played with Frode & Håkon before with Urban Connection (following the footsteps of Michael Brecker & Steve Grossman), & anyone who caught those gigs will know that sparks will fly! The music they will be playing will include standards, tunes by Sonny Rollins & Steve Grossman, a tribute to Michael Brecker & one or two originals with a nod in the direction of Elvin Jones’ Live at the Lighthouse sessions.....


Frode Nymo (alto saxophone)

Frode is one of the most exciting European saxophone talents to emerge for years. He was born in Egersund, Norway 27.11.1975 & studied at the Trondheim Music Conservatory.

He has played with: Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Karin Krog, Steve Grossman, Cæcilie Nordby, Roger Kellaway, Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Bublé, Kevin Dean, Jon Balke, Dave O´Higgins, Django Bates, Zim Nqawana, Magnus Bro, Jacob Fisher, Pierre Boussaguet, Jeff Boudreaux, Trondheim Jazzorkester, Scott Robinson…

Frode is one third of the award winning group, Urban Connection.

Further information: www.myspace.com/frodenymo



Håkon Mjåset Johansen (drums)

Håkon is often described as one of the most dynamic and musical drummers in Scandinavia. His mesmerising drum solos are dramatic, surprising and powerful. Born in the city of Trondheim, Norway, he studied at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim.

He has toured extensively throughout the world and has performed and recorded in jazz, rock, pop and classical genres, collaborating with artists such as Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Jan Garbarek and Steve Grossman.

Håkon won Young Jazz Musician of the Year (1998) and Best Nordic Jazz Comet (2001), and represented Norway in The European Jazz Youth Orchestra - a band with one musician from different European countries. He has received the Norwegian Grammy twice with Urban Connection (2000) and Come Shine (2001).



Torbjörn Zetterberg (bass)
Torbjörn, born and raised in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden, first picked up the bass at age fourteen.

Eighteen years later he has released five albums as a leader, of which two were nominated jazz album of the year at the Swedish Grammy Award.

Torbjörn has toured all over the world with musicians such as Benny Golson, Benny Bailey, Marcus Strickland, Carlos Garnett, Mark Murphy, Nicolas Payton, Ron Blake and Bobo Stensson to name a few.

Further information: www.myspace.com/torbjrnzetterberg


Dave O’Higgins (tenor & soprano saxophones)

Dave is twice winner of Best Tenor Sax, British Jazz Awards and currently works with the Ronnie Scotts Allstars and the BBC Big Band. He has toured around the world with Itchy Fingers, Martin Taylor, Jim Mullen, Joe Locke, Jamie Cullum, Joey Calderazzo, Kyle Eastwood, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Matthew Herbert, Incognito, Ray Charles and Jimmy Smith to name a few.

His new CD (9th as leader), In The Zone has just been released on Jazzizit Records.

Dave has collaborated with the Jazzcotech Dancers and produced 2 CDs for the London jazz dance scene: a few tracks have become club favourites.

By the time this goes to press, Dave will have just completed a tour & new recording with the great New York saxophonist, Eric Alexander.

“O’Higgins plays with quite exceptional fluency and his fund of ideas never runs out.”
The OBSERVER

“Dazzling post-bop tenorist with a magnificent range and a dramatic turn of phrase.”
THE GUARDIAN

“one of the most vigorously compelling tenor players on the UK scene, and on this wholly enjoyable, powerful album, he nods to the great saxophonists – Charlie Parker, Coltrane, Dexter Gordon chief among them – who so clearly influenced him, without unduly compromising his individuality; In the Zone is archetypal O'Higgins: unpretentious, accessible, no-nonsense acoustic jazz addressed with skilfully controlled energy.”
CHRIS PARKER

Further information: www.daveohiggins.com


Urban Connection + Dave O'Higgins

“….driven by the edgy, active drumming of Hakon Mjaset Johansen and featuring Frode Nymo's alto sax, the group sounded like a trio of long-time partners and restless risk-takers looking for adventure.”

“…..O'Higgins' hollow tone and fresh phrasing thrived so fruitfully in the loose and flexible atmosphere that it sounded like a new lease of life for him. Plenty of very pleasant jazz surprises.”
JOHN FORDHAM, GUARDIAN

Northern European Jazz Quartet tour dates

16 June Ronnie Scotts, London, UK
17 June Ronnie Scotts, London, UK
18 June Ronnie Scotts, London, UK
19 June The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK
20 June The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK
21 June The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK
22 June The Glenn Miller Café, Brunnsgatan 21a, Stockholm, Sweden
23 June Festspillene i Nord Norge, Harstad, Norway
24 June Festspillene i Nord Norge, Harstad, Norway
26 June – 1 July Grahamstown Festival, South Africa
3 July Scene West Victoria, Oslo, Norway