Tony Kofi & the Organisation Celebrate Lou Donaldson
The multi-award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi first came to prominence in the 1990’s with the likes of The Jazz Warriors and Courtney Pine. He was the first UK musician to be featured in the iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet and his awards include the 2005 Parliamentary Jazz Award, BBC Radio 3 Album of the Year and the BBC Jazz Award. Returning to his first instrument, the alto sax, tonight Tony joins the “All Star” band The Organisation, which features Pete Whittaker (John Etheridge, The Filthy Six)-organ, Simon Fernsby (Alex Garnett, Dave O'Higgins)-guitar & Pete Cater (Tom Jones)-drums, described by BBC Music Magazine as “exciting, foot-tapping, expressive without neglecting jazz’s more cerebral pleasures”. Together they will be celebrating the late, great, alto sax legend Lou Donaldson, born in 1926 making 2026 the centenary year of his birth! His roots in Bebop evolved into a popular association with the Soul Jazz movement, and Tony gained inspiration for this tribute after being invited to an open rehearsal by Lou himself. Tonight they will be playing tunes closely associated with Lou over his long and prolific career.
“The sight of Tony Kofi picking up baritone sax never fails to produce a tremor of excitement” London Jazz News; “Tony Kofi’s full-bodied sound, clear articulation and committed attack carry the immediacy and impact of the established masters of the jazz saxophone” Financial Times; "A killer band with real bite" Jazzwise