Sunday, January 18th – 4:30-6:30 pm
which way west? Sunday concert series
The Billy Higgins Legacy Band

Drummer Myron Cohen carries the spirit of the late Billy Higgins into the present day, with joy and a propulsive and irresistible beat.  He has partnered with so many fine players and has taken so many young talents under his wing in his desire to be true to Higgins’ spirit.  Today, saxophonist Steve Heckman, a major talent of international stature, joins Myron, pianist Eddie Mendenhall and bassist Joe MacKinley to play two sets of fantastic bop and straight ahead jazz, with guests including the stunningly talented young vocalist, Aspen Jordan.

Cohen has played with major artists including Michael Bloomfield, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Otis Spann, Ron Stallings, Azar Lawrence, Ravi Coltrane, Donald ‘Rafael’ Garrett, Woody Shaw, and Wayne Shorter – to name a few.  But his most significant connection may have been with drummer Higgins, who gave a great deal to Cohen including some fascinating stories of his life and music.  Billy understood Cohen’s commitment to mentoring young musicians–especially drummers–and arranged for Cohen to work with specific West Coast jazz musicians that would appreciate Cohen’s musicality. It is in the spirit of Billy’s musical mentoring that The Billy Higgins Legacy Band was formed, and it continues to evolve with Cohen as the leader.  Cohen conceived this band in response to his own experience of musical mentoring by master drummers Louie Bellson, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, John Rae, Dave Black, Sonny Freeman, Buddy Miles, Subash Chandran, Ed Thigpen, Billy Hart, George Brown, and most notably the late, great, Billy Higgins.  Please join us at Bird & Beckett to share the joy and musicality of a wonderful drummer, and the fine musicians who have joined him in his quest to honor Higgins’ expansive spirit.