Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet 'Inspiration'

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Last Show: Tuesday 5 th February 2019

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Polish/Ukrainian harpist Alina Bzhezhinska stormed the UK music scene in the end of 2017 when her quartet appeared at the Barbican during the EFG London Jazz Festival in a triple bill featuring Denys Baptiste and Pharoah Sanders - and has been nominated for Best Live Experience of the Year at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards. In 2018 she produced her critically acclaimed album, Inspiration (Ubuntu Music), strongly supported by award winner saxophonist Tony Kofi, double bassist Larry Bartley and Australian drummer Joel Prime. She tells Alice and John Coltrane’s story through her own interpretation of their music and her compositions. Her debut performance at PizzaExpress can’t be missed.

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“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

Originally from Ukraine/Poland and now based in London, Alina Bzhezhinska, winner of the PRS Women Make Music Award, is an internationally renowned harpist. She has performed with leading musicians such as Shabaka Hutchings, Django Bates and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. Her duo, with award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King, has supported Gregory Porter.

Alina’s critically acclaimed Quartet led the 80th Birthday celebrations for Alice Coltrane around the UK in 2017. 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' - has been nominated for Best Live Experience of the Year at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards.

Alina has recorded a solo album called Harp Recital and is featured on recordings by the American ensemble Harp Fusion and New Focus. Her new album, Inspiration, has been released in June 2018 through Ubuntu Music. 

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. Winner of 'Australia's Best Up & Coming Drummer' competition in 2011, his versatility across congas, drum kit and all manner of Afro Cuban and Brazilian percussion sees him performing with Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet, Mr Little’s Noisy Band, Felix Riebl and The Copasetic Foundation amongst others.

www.alina-harpist.com

Band Lineup

Alina Bzhezhinska (harp)

Tony Kofi (saxophones)

Larry Bartley (double bass)

Joel Prime (drums/percussion)