Alice Coltrane 80th birthday celebration

Presented by: Vortex Jazz

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0	LONDON: Vortex
P	Monday 28th August, 2017
N	8:00pm

Event information

Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet presents:

“INSPIRED BY ALICE COLTRANE”

Alina Bzhezhinska – Harp
Tony Kofi – Saxophones
Larry Bartley – Bass
Joel Prime – Drums/ Percussions

“Alice Coltrane is one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, with a sublime musical vision that encompasses jazz, blues, gospel, Indian classical, North African music, and European modernism”.

Stewart Smith, The Quietus.

Internationally renowned harpist Alina Bzhezhinska, award-winning jazz saxophonist Tony Kofi, a diverse bass player/ composer Larry Bartley and a virtuoso drummer Joel Prime bring to live this highly anticipated project dedicated to one of the most innovative female jazz musician – Alice Coltrane. They celebrate the double anniversary of Alice Coltrane birth and death (1937-2007) by performing their arrangements of her compositions from the albums such as Journey in Satchidananda, Ptah The El Daoudand Eternity as well as her latest release by Luaka Bop The Ecstatic of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda.

“…Bzhezhinska’s superlative touch on the instrument does her role
model proud…”
Kevin Le Genre, Jazzwise May 2017

“…A sincere and abiding love for Ms Coltrane’s transporting and
ineffably mystical compositions…”
Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise April 2017



ABOUT THE MUSICIANS:

Originally from Ukraine/Poland, ALINA BZHEZHINSKA (www.alina-harpist.com) has become one of the most innovative international harpists, based in London.

She has created imaginative concert programmes and recorded with leading classical and jazz musicians: such as Django Bates, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Glasgow String Quartet. Alina’s London appearances include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, live on BBC Radio 3, the London Jazz Festival and the London Film Festival. Her duo with award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King recently performed as a support act for Gregory Porter.

Alina’s critically acclaimed Quartet with Tony Kofi (Saxophones), Larry Bartley (Bass) and Joel Prime (Drums/Percussion) has appeared at Jazz Legend Festival in Birmingham and leads the celebration of Alice Coltrane 80th Birthday at many venues around the country, including top London jazz clubs, such as The Crypt and The Vortex. Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet will appear at the London Jazz Festival 2017 in a triple bill performance along with Coltrane’ s specialist Denys Baptist and the legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.

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 playing is constantly in demand.

LARRY BARTLEY is a bassist / composer who has been a staple of the London & international jazz scene for the past 20 years as a side man and as a leader. His 2003 debut album, “ALONG THIS WAY” was nominated for ‘best new work” in the BBC JAZZ AWARDS.

Larry has also played & recorded in various bands including Abdullah Ibrahim, Tony Kofi, Denys Baptiste, Ingrid Laugbrock, Stanley Turrentine, Steve Grossman, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), David Murray, Orinn Evans & Gary Bartz.

Australian drummer JOEL PRIME has become an important addition to British jazz. He was awarded most outstanding percussionist at Generations in Jazz by James Morrison, received a prestigious performance award from Downbeat magazine (USA) as a member of the Adelaide University Big Band 1. Joel also received the Helpmann Academy Award for Jazz Drums at the Elder Conservatorium and received the 2010 Helpmann Academy Award for most outstanding Honours graduate.

REVIEWS:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5o0mt7pa0kt2pkh/AADO2qkW5v0_LnOt3wMswSNea?dl=0



ALINA BZHEZHINSKA QUARTET “Journey in Satchidananda” video link:

https://youtu.be/9voErU3A6uU