Doors 7pm, music 7.30pm
Line-up
Tony Kofi – Alto Saxophone
Andy Davies – Trumpet
Alex Webb – Piano
Andy Champion – Double Bass
Alfonso Vitale – Drums
About
Alto-sax master Tony Kofi fronts this loving celebration of the jazz giant Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley. With Andy Davies (trumpet) Alex Webb (piano), Andy Champion (bass) and Alfonso Vitale (drums) the group traces the explosive music of Cannonball Adderley from his first session as leader in 1955 through work with Miles Davis to the soul-jazz of the 1960s.
The repertoire includes Adderley brothers classics like ‘Things Are Getting Better’, ‘Work Song’, ‘Del Sasser’, ‘Sack o’Woe’ and many others. Cannonball Adderley was one of the best-loved figures in post-war jazz. Hailed as ‘the new Bird’ on his emergence, he made historic recordings with Miles Davis and John Coltrane as well as having many crossover hits as a pioneer of soul-jazz.
Tony Kofi won the Best Instrumentalist Award at the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards, Best Ensemble at the 2005 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Album of the Year at the 2005 BBC Jazz Awards and was nominated for an award MOBO in 2008, 2015 The Jack Petchey Award for services to Music and 2020 The Presto music award for best album Another Kind of Soul and nominated for the Best Instrumentalist award for the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz award.
Andy Davies comes from Swansea in South Wales. Now based in London he regularly performs at Ronnie Scotts jazz Club and often hosts the Ronnie Scott’s Late Night Jam Session. He leads the Andy Davies Quartet which is a showcase for his composing. They have toured Japan, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK. He has done pop session work with artists such as Will Young, McFly and appeared on television shows The Paul OGrady Show and Michael Parkinson Show.
Alex Webb is a songwriter, arranger and pianist; His songs have been recorded by jazz singers China Moses, Mina Agossi, Sandra Nkake, Liane Carroll, Allan Harris, David McAlmont and Alexander Stewart, among others. He has created a number of ‘words-and-music’ productions, including ‘Lush Life’ (about composer / arranger Billy Strayhorn), ‘Charlie Parker on Dial’ and ‘Cafe Society Swing’ which enjoyed two theatre runs in London and one in New York.
Andy Champion graduated from Newcastle College in 1998, initially working throughout the UK and Europe as a electric bassist and drummer in various styles of music. But after taking up double bass in 2003 he became more heavily involved in the North East jazz and improvised music scene, rapidly building a reputation that has led to recording and performing with top names such as Bob Mintzer, Tim Garland, Jason Yarde and Andy Sheppard. As an improviser he has played alongside major international figures including Marc Ducret, Marilyn Crispell, Matt Maneri and Eugene Chadbourne.
Alfonso Vitale became a regular fixture at local jazz club ‘La Sosta’, sitting in with visiting veteran stars like Bobby Watson, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Steve Swallow and others. In 2013 he graduated from the Conservatoire A. Corelli with a degree in classical percussion. Soon after moving to the UK, he became a regular sideman with tenor saxophonist Renato D’Aiello at Ronnie Scott’s Acoustic Jazz Lounge and found a comfortable footing on the London scene.
‘Tony Kofi’s Portrait of Cannonball started the festival, setting the bar high for subsequent acts. Tearing into the Adderley canon … Kofi’s spirited approach was supported by a tight rhythm section’ – Jazzwise Magazine