Originally from Ukraine/Poland and now based in London, Alina Bzhezhinska is an internationally renowned harpist. She has performed with leading classical and jazz musicians such as Shabaka Hutchings, Django Bates, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Glasgow String Quartet. Her duo, with award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King, has supported Gregory Porter.
Alina’s critically acclaimed HipHarp Quartet celebrates the music of Alice Coltrane . Their appearance at the EFG London Jazz Festival in a special triple bill featuring Denys Baptiste and Pharoah Sanders – ‘A Concert for Alice and John’ – was nominated for Best Live Experience of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards.
Her new album, Inspiration, has been released in June 2018 through Ubuntu Music. “I set myself on a mission to tell Alice and John Coltrane’s story in my own words, through my own interpretation of their music and my compositions,” explains Alina.
“On Inspiration (the Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet) bathe deeply in the spirit of Alice and John’s majestic, meditative music, yet also use it as a point of departure for new personal directions. The journey is within, to a better place for humanity.” Kevin Le Gendre
TONY KOFI Having ‘cut his teeth’ in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi (www.tonykofimusic.com) has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority. Tony’s playing has also been a feature of many bands and artists including “US-3” World Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, The David Murray Big Band and Sam Rivers, Andrew hill, Ornette Coleman, Nu-Troop and Jazz Jamaica. His fluent and fiery hard-bop soprano/ alto/ tenor/ baritone playing is constantly in demand.
MIKELE MONTOLLI studied violin from the age of seven, switching later to electric bass. By the age of 17, he had taken up classical double bass in Verona’s Conservatory. Joining the London Jazz scene in 2010, Michele performed at various jazz and world music festivals all over Europe, New York, Detroit, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Balkan Peninsula, performing and recording with such great artists as Sun Ra Arkestra, Heidi Vogel, Judi Jackson, Nigel Price, L.A. saxophonist Don Menza, piano-trios of Charlie Stacey, Sorin Zlat, Kamaal Williams.
Alina Bzhezhinska – Harp, Tony Kofi – Saxophones, Mikele Montolli– Double Bass, Joel Prime – Drums / Percussion.
Doors are 7pm. Support (7.30-8pm) is from “Viridian” with Pedraum Agahi on guitar and santour, Jaden Hart on bass and Dom Neeson on drums.
Tickets £20/£18 conc £10 under 25s.
Buy Tickets