Alina Bzhezhinska featuring Tony Kofi

A versatile instrument the harp's place in jazz has been one of relative novelty, associated most notably with Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, but has recently been discovered anew by contemporary jazz musicians, of whom Alina Bzhezhinska is one of the most exciting and dynamic. Earning her degree at the F. Chopin Academy in Warsaw followed by a Masters from the University of Arizona USA, Alina is now based in the UK where she has performed at the likes of the Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott's and the Queen’s 80th Birthday celebrations at Balmoral. Festival dates include Edinburgh International Harp Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and the Glasgow Jazz Festival, while her 2017 London Jazz Festival performance in a triple bill with Pharoah Sanders and Denys Baptiste was nominated for Jazz FM’s ‘Live Experience of the Year’ award. Alina’s debut album ‘Inspiration’ released in 2018 by Ubuntu and featuring her exceptional quartet of Tony Kofi-saxes, Larry Bartley-bass and Joel Prime-drums is a tribute to the aforementioned Alice Coltrane, as well as saxophonist John Coltrane. Captivating critics and audiences alike it has heralded Alina’s arrival on the international jazz scene in no uncertain terms. It’s wonderful music, exotic and mesmerizing, new yet familiar and we are delighted to welcome this superb lineup to the 606 for the first time.