Tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, B flat clarinet
After studying sculpture at the Brighton College of Art & Design he went to the CAT in Newcastle (now the Newcastle University) where he graduated in Light Music (nowadays called jazz). Several years later, whilst visiting friends and playing concerts in Brussels (1988), he discovered that the Brussels Conservatory was opening a new jazz section and decided to follow the courses -4 years- given by Belgian musicians such as Steve Houben, Jean Louis Rassinfosse and Bruno Castellucci, ending up with a first prize in saxophone and a diploma in Jazz Studies.
Whilst at the Brussels Conservatory, he naturally became involved in the Brussels jazz scene, playing with many of the local musicians who were heavily centered around two places 'Travers' and 'The Kaai'. These clubs were a central meeting point for jam sessions and in the case of the Kaai more experimental music. It was here that Joe was able to meet and play with such players as, Hein Van De Geyn, Eric Legnini, Phillip Aerts, Bo Vanderwerf, Sebastiaan De Krom. During that period he also studied with John Roucco, one of the father figures of modern saxophone in Belgium and Holland.
After the Conservatory, Joe started playing with many different groups -jazz group Francois Decamps 'Hamp Digs Ham', local brass band 'Combo Belge', blues-soul group 'Odex Protocole' (see projects page for more info), punk- jazz group (with Geoff Leigh of Henry Cow), 'The Morton Fork Gang', and the m-base influenced Thomas & Co, formed by actor/singer Olivier Thomas around the rhythm section of Aka Moon (CDs include: 'Singulier des Pluriels' and 'Le Second Soufle De Josaphat') and the collective trio 'The Jazz Project', which played in residency at the Brussels 'Phil's Bar' for two years.
He studied Arabic music on the ney with Hamid Al Basri - one of the oldest and most respected teachers of Arabic music in Europe. From then on, Joe spent more and more time playing the Arabic ney in the classical music ensemble based at the 'Centre Culturel Arabe'. He also became involved in the Jewish klezmer rock group 'Yiddish Tantz Rivayvele' (CD: Le Monde est un Village - Radio Nomade Vol 4. RTBF productions). These experiences eventually led to the creation of Joe's own group Al-Orkesta.
Joe Higham is now teaching at the Jazz Studio which is one of the oldest private jazz schools in Europe.
Joe also continues to study with Charlie Banacos. Following these courses keeps new ideas and concepts developing in his playing, and at the same time helps maintain a certain discipline for practice routines.
Press Quotes:
The Al Orkesta mixes folk and ethnic music with jazz and rock elements,
leaving lots of room for the soloist's creativity. The quintet is made up of the
leader Jo Higham (tenor sax, clarinet), the trumpet player Jean-Paul
Estiévenart, the guitarist Jacques Pirotton, the bass-
player Olivier Stalon and the drummer Setphan Pougin. Traditional music
from Turkey (”House of the Marriage”) Syria (”Sal Fi-na Al-Lahda”) and Israel
(”Sphil-Zhe Mir A Lidele”) form the thematic starting point upon which the
musicians improvise to their heart's content. A conspicuous role is set aside
for Pirotton's electric guitar, so that the music in addition to folk and jazz can
also be called rock. All the numbers are by Joe Higham with the exception of
”Valse Immonde” by Jacques Pirotton. I hesitate to make anyone spend
money, but this CD, an issue in the latest offering from Mognomusic, is
another little pearl. Perhaps the free jazz elements, which are definitely
present, may scare off some listeners, but here there can certainly be no talk
of “squeak-grunt” music.
Equipment:
Tenor sax, Soprano sax, Bb clarinet, Bass Clarinet.
