Roadside Picnic

This UK jazz outfit comprised Dave O’Higgins (b. David O’Higgins, 1 September 1964, Birmingham, West Midlands, England; tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, EWI), John Smith (piano, keyboards), Mario Castronari (bass), and Mike Bradley (drums, percussion). Despite the considerable press coverage given to the saxophonist O’Higgins, it was the compositional and conceptual strength of Castronari that gave Roadside Picnic its initial impetus. Formed during the British jazz boom of the mid-80s, this strong four-piece fusion band featured some of the young UK talent at the time securing a niche in the jazz scene. Their popular debut, Roadside Picnic, was recorded in 1988 and released to an enthusiastic reception. In 1990 they followed up with their concept set For Mad Men Only. Intended as a musical representation of scenes from Herman Hesse’s novel Steppenwolf, it was accompanied by another burst of media attention. The group’s repertoire included carefully arranged original material. Smith’s futuristic keyboard sounds were played over complex rhythmic patterns and shifting time signatures, leaving a fairly strict framework for O’Higgins’ Michael Brecker -influenced saxophone solos.