Tony Kofi (Alto Saxophone), Larry Bartley (Double Bass) & Rod Youngs (Drums) pay homage to the music of Ornette Coleman.
TONY KOFI was born in Nottingham to West African parents. A self-taught musician, he came to London in the early ’90s. Tony has worked and recorded with the David Murray Big Band, Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop, the Jazz Warriors, Eddie Henderson, Manu Dibango, Dr Lonnie Smith, Billy Higgins and US-3 and the Roy Ayers Big Band,Andrew Hill’s American-Anglo Big Band, Sam Rivers Rivbea Big band, the Julian Joseph Big Band, Byron Wallen’s Indigo, Tim Richards’ Great Spirit, Grand Union Orchestra, the African All-Stars and Claude Deppa’s AJE. He has studied with Billy Pierce and Donald Byrd, The World saxophone Quartet,Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya, Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s Coltrane Configurations and Ornette Coleman.
LARRY BARTLEY has become one of the most sought after bass players on the London jazz scene. He studied at Goldsmith College from 1988 – 1991 with Howard Riley and Laurence Couty giving him a wide and open outlook to the music scene. Larry Bartley’s presence can be felt through his identifiable sound and through his deep commitment to music.
He has worked with bands led by Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint, Denys Baptiste,Cleveland Watkiss, Byron Wallen ,Steve Williamson, Julian Joseph, AndySheppard, Soweto Kinch, Juliet Roberts, Alex Wilson and Robert Mitchellas well as backing visiting musicians such as Stanley Turrentine and Steve Grossman. Larry Bartley has also on the stage of the Royal Opera House with dancer Sharon Wrey’s.
Bartley’s playing is featured on many recordings by some of London’s best-known jazz players.
ROD YOUNGS, originally from Washington DC & now resident in London, has been heard with the late Gil Scott Heron, Gary Crosby, Jon Hendricks and the late Abram Wilson among others. Not just a musician, Youngs is also a composer and educator of immense talent and refinement. His interest in music began in his youth and has spawned into a career that has spanned over two decades and taken him to over thirty countries.
