Tony Kofi
Saxophonist Tony Kofi first came to prominence in the 1990’s as a member of The Jazz Warriors and Gary Cosby’s Nu Troop as well as playing with high profile musicians including Billy Higgins, Clifford Jarvis and Courtney Pine. In 2007 Tony and his 'Monk Liberation Front' performed all of Monk’s 70 compositions at the London Jazz Festival (receiving a standing ovation), and in 2009 he headlined the Rochester Jazz Festival in New York. And just to emphasise his international status, Tony was one of the featured saxophone players with David Murray’s iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet, the first UK born musician in that band. Awards include the 2005 Parliamentary Jazz Awards - Best Ensemble, Radio 3 Jazz line up album of the year 2005 and 2008 BBC Jazz Awards - Best Instrumentalist as well as also being nominated for a MOBO in 2008. For this performance Tony Kofi & his Quartet (Dan Waldman-guitar, Conor Murray-bass & Tim Giles-drums) will be playing classic jazz standards that were first heard on Broadway and in Hollywood movie classics like West Side Story, Laura, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Calamity Jane and many more. Tony's love of classic movies started aged five when he saw West Side Story from start to finish and this programme promises to be an absolute delight.
“Tony Kofi’s full-bodied sound, clear articulation and committed attack carry the immediacy and impact of the established masters of the jazz saxophone...his improvisations.....tell stories and have emotional purpose” Financial Times;“There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi” Jazzwise