Celebrating Alice Coltrane: Alina Bzhezhinska’s HipHarp, with special guest Brian Jackson
Band on the Wall (The Venue)
Alina Bzhezhinska harp / Tony Kofi saxophone / Brian Jackson piano, keyboards / Menelik Claffey double bass / Matthew Holmes drums
A celebration of one of the foremost proponents of spiritual jazz, Alice Coltrane, performed by a stellar ensemble that unites legendary and emerging talents. Music of transcendence and hope that shifts, as Jazzwise noted, “from the modal to the meditative, leaving the audience with a lasting impression of using spiritual power for personal and collective betterment.”
Alina Bzhezhinska has collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz, appearing on Shabaka’s solo debut Afrikan Culture and Ganavya’s Forgive Me Mine. Her recent records, Reflections and Altera Vita have been warmly received by critics, the latter hailed as “a take-your-breath-away masterpiece” by Downbeat Magazine.
Brian Jackson’s legacy speaks for itself: his legendary collaborations include Gil Scott-Heron, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Roy Ayers and he is the composer and keyboardist behind timeless classics Bridges and Winter in America. His 2022 solo album, This Is Brian Jackson, marked a powerful return—showcasing his signature fusion of jazz, soul, and storytelling.
Tony Kofi is a multi-award winning saxophonist with a recording career that has seen collaborations with Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Cymande and Ornette Coleman. Kofi’s solo work, in particular his 2020 album A Different Kind Of Soul and his recently reissued Plays Monk, cement his reputation as one of the UK’s most accomplished saxophonists.
Menelik Claffey is a recent jazz graduate from Trinity Laban and member of the Tomorrow’s Warriors Quintet, having performed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Barbican, Southbank Centre and, in 2024, at the invitation of D0wning Street to celebrate Black History Month.
Matthew Holmes is a drummer, composer and educator regularly featured at The Barbican, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Pizza Express Soho, The Southbank Centre and Cafe OTO, as well as on ITV, Channel 5, BBC Radio 6, Jazz FM, Scala Radio and Worldwide FM.
Please note: this event replaces the performance by Steam Down originally scheduled for 24 May, which has been cancelled for reasons beyond our control. Any tickets already purchased for that event will be fully refunded.
Doors: 7.30 pm
Date: saturday 24 may
Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Price: £26 Advance / £28 Full
Buy Tickets- Something about John Coltrane - performed live
