Dan Higgins first distinguished himself as an outstanding saxophonist while attending the University of North Texas, playing in the One O'Clock Lab Band in 1976 and 1977. He taught both saxophone and improvisation and was a member of the 1976 United States Department of State's tour to Russia. As a member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, Dan recorded two albums and toured Europe and Japan. He can be heard on jazz albums with Quincy Jones, Sammy Nestico, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Diane Schuur and Pat Williams. Dan was part of the Barbra Streisand New Year's Eve concert in 1994 and 1999 as well as the following United States tours.
As a Los Angeles-based professional, Dan has recorded with such noted artists as Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Patti Austin, Burt Bacharach, Frank Sinatra, Phil Collins, José Feliciano, Cher, Natalie Cole, Randy Newman, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Loggins, Ringo Starr, Al Jarreau and Seth MacFarlane.
Dan's varied talents on all woodwinds make him a sought-after session musician in the film, TV and record industries. He is the solo alto saxophone voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy from the TV series The Simpsons. The Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards are just a few of the live TV specials he has played. Dan has worked on over 700 motion picture scores and was the featured saxophone soloist in Catch Me If You Can, Ray, Sideways, Awakenings, The Notebook, Benny & Joon and Sleepless in Seattle. Such notable composers as John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Marc Shaiman, James Horner and Randy Newman have called on Dan to play their film scores.
Under the direction of John Williams, Dan has been a guest soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic, performing the John Williams piece "Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra." This work was a featured part of the 2003 PBS TV Series Evening at the Pops as well as the 2014 PBS Gala Los Angeles Philharmonic concert under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.
