Dave O’Higgins – saxophones, Chico Chargas – accordion, Andrew McCormack – piano, Pat Bettison - bass guitar and Ernesto Simpson – drums.

Chico and Dave met at a jam session and struck up an instant rapport.

They play original music by Chico – beautiful, evocative, joyous, sad – firmly rooted in Brazilian tradition with a host of jazz influences, conceived especially for the distinctive voice of Dave’s saxophone. If you like melody, harmony & rhythm this music is a feast of all these ingredients, the band is certainly not to be missed.

Chico comes from the Brazilian Amazon.  He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and uncles, who all played accordion.

Chico moved to London in 2008.  He believes the UK capital to be the most exciting, open minded, cosmopolitan “cooking pot” in which to create his own rich musical stew.

Dave O’Higgins lived in Derby as a teenager and had already performed with his own quartet for Derby Jazz before he left to study jazz in London. Whilst studying he formed his own London band and started working with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. His other current project is a quintet with US saxophonist Eric Alexander.

Pianist Andrew McCormack won the 2006 BBC Rising Star Jazz Award and he’s still rising. He co-leads a duo with Jason Yarde and has worked with Kyle Eastwood, Denys Baptiste and Jean Toussaint. Pat Bettison is an electric bass player on the London scene and is a member of the Nicolas Meier group. Drummer Ernesto Simpson has recently moved to London from New York where he worked with many giants of Latin Jazz, most particularly Arturo Sandoval.

www.myspace.com/chicochargas