Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi Duo ft. Joel Prime
From Ukraine, jazz harpist Alina Bzhezhinska stormed the UK music scene when she and her quartet appeared at the Barbican during the 2017 EFG London Jazz Festival, receiving a Jazz FM Award nomination for Best Live Experience of the Year. Since then her recordings and concert performances have affirmed her an important and original artist. Saxophonist Tony Kofi first came to prominence in the 1990’s as a member of The Jazz Warriors and Gary Cosby’s Nu Troop. Subsequently, as well as leading his own groups including the Monk Liberation Front, he played with Billy Higgins, Clifford Jarvis, Courtney Pine and David Murray’s iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet (the first UK born musician in the group). And, in addition to multiple BBC Jazz Awards, he’s also a Parliamentary Jazz Award winner and a MOBO nominee.
Alina and Tony have known each other since 2015 and their musical partnership has produced three albums, including their latest “Altera Vita”. In their own words, the album is described as “resonating deeply with the musical style of our hero”, the late US saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who influenced their “artistic journey through Jazz”. With Tony’s West African and Alina’s Eastern European roots also informing the compositions, the music aims to bring “solace and elation to those who listen in these uncertain times.” Downbeat Magazine awarded the record five stars, commenting, “Wow… a powerful, moving, take-your-breath-away masterpiece”. With the addition of percussionist Joel Prime (HipHarpCollective) to this live show, this promises to be a richly satisfying evening of unparalleled excellence.
"Alina Bzhezhinska…among the best contemporary harpists...a modern-day supremo” Evening Standard; ;“There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi” Jazzwise