Review: Monkin' Around live at Pizza Express Soho

The latest project of Dave O’Higgins, UK jazz’s very own Renaissance man, is Monkin’ Around, a trio (with Luke Fowler on bass and Billy Pod on drums) that aims to shed new light on the master of elliptical pianism, Thelonious Monk. Their 2024 album 4 In 1 (Ubuntu Music) gained critical garlands, and this show and the forthcoming tour should win them still more praise appreciation. The idea of Monkin' Around is to capture the spirit of Monk (of whom Dave is a huge and diligent devotee), rather than just reproducing it or merely paying tribute. On this evidence – a trio, piano-less version of 'Pannonica' particularly – they succeed admirably, bringing freshness and fun to classic material.  

For this show at Pizza Express Soho, the first set gets off to a blistering start with ‘Epistrophy’: a sturdy, assertive version with just bass, drums and sax. The lack of a piano bothers the trio – and the audience – not one jot: O’Higgins has a very ‘Monkian’ approach to his sax playing. Martin Short guests on a smooth yet declamatory trumpet for a questing, angular take on 'San Francisco Holday'. Piano finally arrives in the shape of the excellent, fleet-of-finger Sean Fyfe, who certainly channels Monk in novel ways on a clangorous 'Evidence' and 'Green Chimneys'. 

The group, switching between trio, quartet and quintet formats, make this sometimes difficult music hugely entertaining; it's always questioning, exciting but never pretentious or dull. The five musicians are obviously immersed in the material, but they don't approach it as musical academics, but as appreciative fans, and with deep affection. You 

Monkin’ Around Trio will be playing a number of UK dates to promote the 4 in 1 album: 23 January - London, The Moustache; 4 February - Birmingham, The Night Owl; 17 February - London, The Parakeet Pub, Kentish Town; and 5 March - Oxford, The Mad Hatter. And later in 2025, the Monkin’ Around Quintet will be playing at the University Centre Wine Bar in Cambridge (10 July). Make sure you catch 'em, they're an even better prospect live than on record!