Spice Jazz Soho Presents: Donovan Haffner

After 25 years of solid jazz promoting in the basement bar at The Spice of Life Soho, nurturing upcoming talents as well as established masters of the music, the SpiceJazz Team (Tara Minton, Clement Regert and Paul Pace) are excited to relocate their acclaimed operation to the well-appointed and stylish music room of Crazy Coqs.

22 year old Donovan Haffner is an alto saxophonist who is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, undertaking a BMus degree, specialising in jazz.

Donovan has played with a multitude of professional musicians including the big contemporary British names such as Moses Boyd, and Jay Phelps, and European contemporary names such as Rasmus Sorenson.

Gary Crosby OBE, Alex Davis and Binker Golding of Tomorrow’s Warriors were amongst some of his mentors in his earlier years.

Donovan’s musicianship has already seen him play London jazz gigs at Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Café, The Vortex and Pizza Express Soho and Holborn as well as appearing at festivals including, EFG London Jazz Festival, Pitchfork Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, We Out Here Festival and Brainchild.

Donovan leads his quintet featuring band members Donovan Haffner (alto sax), Francisco Garcia de Paredes (guitar), Jay Verma (piano), Harry Pearce (bass) and Harry Ling (drums). The group plays originals written by Donovan, striving to create music which is contemporary whilst still honouring the rich history of jazz music.