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Kofi-Bzhezhinska-Zirilli International Trio

This new trio with one of Birmingham Jazz favourite players, and award-winning jazz saxophonist Tony Kofi, with internationally renowned harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and the virtuoso drummer Enzo Zirilli. They all  star in this highly anticipated new show, 'The Bad and The Beautiful'.  Together they showcase their musical skills through the art of beautiful melodies and jazz harmonies, within a truly intimate performance.  The show features the timeless tunes of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn; scores from 'film noire' classics such as "Chinatown" and "The Bad and the Beautiful" and a host of original compositions written especially for this unique trio.

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.  As well as for “Nu-Troop” and “Jazz Jamaica”, Tony’s alto playing has also been a feature of many bands and artists.  They include “US-3” World Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, The David Murray Big Band, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill and Ornette Coleman. His fluent and fiery hard-bop alto playing is constantly in demand.
 
“passionate… superb… heartfelt.”  The Guardian
 

There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi.”  Jazzwise
 
Originally from Ukraine/Poland, Alina Bzhezhinskahas 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 as Django Bates, Konrad Wisniewski, Greg Lawson and Glasgow String Quartet. Alina’s London appearances include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, live on BBC Radio 3, the London Jazz Festival and London Film Festival.  Her duo with jazz vocalist Niki King performed as a support act for Gregory Porter.  She is a harp tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and appeared as a lecturer and a performer at the 12th World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia.
 
 “Bzhezhinska played with conviction,...a strong sense of rhythm and superb use of dynamics”.    *****Three Weeks, Edinburgh Festival
 
“…Bzhezhinska really demonstrates her skill and no string is left unused...”   Music Maker Magazine
 
Enzo Zirilli, is one of the most versatile and creative drummers-percussionist of the last generations. He recorded and toured all over the world with a lot of artists from jazz, world music, latin, funk and the pop scene, such as Tom Harrell, Bob Mintzer, Dado Moroni, Enrico Pieranunzi, James Moody, Gloria Gaynor, Gary Bartz, Hamish Stuart, Liane Carroll, Omar MBE, James Torme', Pietro Tonolo, Peter Bernstein, Rossana Casale and Luigi Bonafede.
 
"Mister Music!" - Gary Husband
 
"Enzo is an ideal musical partner. So sensitive and passionate" - Enrico Pieranun

 

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