Drummer Norman Higgins

Saxophonist David Hall is pictured here with legendary Lexington KY drummer Norman Higgins. As one of Kentucky's premier jazz drummers, Norman has performed with many great musicians including P.J. Short and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Musicians always love performing when Norman is drumming. Click to view photos of a trio gig where David, Kevin Moreland, and Norman thrilled the audience at the Maysville Country Club.


Here is an article from the 1/19/04 Lexington Herald Leader that mentions Norman:

Local jazz veterans bebop for MLK day

By Walter Tunis, Contributing Music Critic

Getting the opportunity to re-create the '60s jazz of esteemed composers John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Art Blakey and Horace Silver on a local stage is special enough. But to perform such music as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day tribute program is a true cause to celebrate. "These are the artists who are studied in jazz programs in colleges," said trumpet and flugelhorn player Dan Brock, one of several local and regional jazz veterans who will perform bebop-inspired music from the civil rights era tonight at The Dame. The club's King Day celebration also will feature a viewing of Living the Story, a documentary chronicling the civil rights movement in Kentucky. A discussion with the film's producer-director, Arthur Rouse, will follow. While jazz has been featured locally for many years, the sort of '60s-era bop on tap tonight seldom finds its way into clubs. "After the big bands died down, the guys who stayed busy in combos began writing and creating their own little repository of music," Brock said. "The bebop style that developed had its own harmoninc language. "We will try to place more emphasis on jazz tunes from that period and draw less on the supper-club standards. Not that some of those tunes aren't wonderful, but we want to feature the guys who, at that time, were making a statement through their music." One of the main guys Brock wants to show off is Lexington jazz drummer Norman Higgins. In addition to his considerable local profile, Higgins performed with jazz renegade saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk in the 1960s. "Norman is the heart and soul of a jazz band in this community when he is on the stand," Brock said. "He is the finest drummer I've worked with. His antennae are always out. He is absolutely stimulating to play with." Tonight's performance also will feature trombonist/bassist Richard Boelter and keyboardist Tom Senff. Proceeds will benefit the National Conference for Community and Justice.



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