WOMEN IN HISTORY OF JAZZ

Celebrating Women in Jazz

Women in jazz have contributed throughout the many eras of jazz history, both as performers and as composers, songwriters and bandleaders. On the night harpist Alina Bzhezhinska will pay tribute to Dorothy Ashby, Alice Coltrane, Nina Simone and Mary Lou Williams.

"Bzhezhinska has a formidable technique which includes conjuring an unusually wide range of timbral qualities from the often monochrome harp. She is further equipped with something you cannot learn: soul, which she has in spades." 

All About Jazz

"Ukrainian-Polish harpist Alina Bzhezhinska is perhaps the foremost contemporary interpreter of Alice Coltrane’s work." 

London Jazz News

"The mainstays are Alina’s innovative harp playing and saxophonist Tony Kofi’s incredible channelling of John Coltrane while unmistakably possessing his own powerful identity." 

London Jazz News

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 Django Bates, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Glasgow String Quartet. In 2017 her duo, with award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King, supported Gregory Porter. Bzhezhinska’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. Bzhezhinska has recorded a solo album called Harp Recital and is featured on recordings by the American harp ensemble Harp Fusion and Scottish jazz group New Focus.

Alina Bzhezhinska – Harp

Tony Kofi – Saxophone

Christian Vaughan – Piano

Larry Bartley – Double Bass

ALINA BZHEZHINSKA - Originally from Lviv, Ukraine, Alina has become one of the most innovative international harpists, based in London. She has created imaginative concert programmes and recorded with leading classical and jazz musicians: such as Django Bates, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Glasgow String Quartet. Alina’s London appearances include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, live on BBC Radio 3, the London Jazz Festival and the London Film Festival. Her duo with award-winning jazz vocalist Niki King recently performed as a support act for Gregory Porter.

TONY KOFI - Having 'cut his teeth' in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi 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.

CHRISTIAN VAUGHAN - is a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with First Class Honours in 1994. Christian played at Glastonbury in 1990 with London-based Latin band Bolivar, and at Ronnie Scott's later the same year with his own jazz trio. He directed a BBC1 TV show band on Johnny Vaughan Tonight in 2002, for which he also wrote the title theme, as well as touring Europe with the Jazz Crusaders in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 he worked with ex-Swingle Rachel Weston on a duo project, and with Alfie Boe on a mixture of opera and swing at the Royal Albert Hall.

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.

OTHER INFORMATION

GENRES: JAZZ

TICKETS: EARLY BIRD TICKETS £10 | ON THE DOOR £15

SEATING IS UN-ALLOCATED AND IS SUBJECT TO 1ST COME, 1ST SERVED BASIS

ONLY BAR FOOD & DRINKS AVAILABLE IN JAZZ CLUB

À LA CARTE DINING AVAILABLE IN THE MAIN RESTAURANT PRIOR TO SHOW

PLEASE ALLOW 60-90 MINUTES FOR DINNER RESERVATIONS.