Alina Bzhezhinska – Harp
Tony Kofi – Saxophones
Larry Bartley – Double Bass
Joel Prime – Drums / Percussion
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 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 harp
ensemble Harp Fusion and the Scottish jazz group New Focus. Her new album, Inspiration, will be 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.
The album was funded in part by the PRS Women Make Music Award.
“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.
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.