Donovan Haffner
FULL PROFILE
‘Alto saxophonist, Donovan Haffner could almost be described as one of the best kept secrets on the London jazz scene for the last 3 or 4 years, but all that is set to change with the release of his debut album, Alleviate.
Aged 11, Donovan joined the highly respected Tomorrow’s Warriors Young Artist Development Programme and was mentored by Gary Crosby OBE, Binker Golding, and Alex Davis. He proved to be a stand-out talent and, by the age of 18, he was invited to tour Italy with multi-award-winning drummer Moses Boyd.
Since then, Donovan has played with Jay Phelps, Charlie Stacey, and Balimaya. He has also performed with the Danish jazz pianist/composer Rasmus Sorenson and was selected by Tony Kofi to be part of, American jazz legend, Charles Tolliver’s Big Band, headlining at the Barbican as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. And Donovan is still very much part of the Tomorrow’s Warriors musical family, performing with both Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica.
However, it is his growing reputation as a bandleader and composer in his own right that is set to see Donovan come to the attention of jazz fans across the country.
If you have already been lucky enough to catch Donovan play live in a venue (including London’s Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Café, and Pizza Express Live) or at a festival (We Out Here, Love Supreme), then you will have been struck not just by the drive and sophistication of his playing, but also how he interprets his own compositions. To see him leading his quintet is
to go on a journey with him through the music he loves, straight ahead and contemporary jazz – drawing on the inspiration of the musicians that have influenced him, including Kenny Garrett, Freddie Hubbard, Immanuel Wilkins, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and Walter Smith III – but enhanced with his own distinctive compositional style.
Recorded with his quintet, Donovan’s debut album Alleviate is a vitally exciting contemporary jazz recording, that reflects Donovan Haffner’s burgeoning talent in a glowing light. This essential body of work will undoubtedly position the young musician as a rising jazz star and one of 2025’s breakthrough artists.’