Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi
Alina Bzhezhinska: harp
Tony Kofi: saxophone

Sheffield Jazz welcomes two true luminaries of the contemporary jazz scene in saxophonist Tony Kofi and harpist Alina Bzhezhinska.

In this intimate duo, multi-award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi brings his rich, expressive tone and deeply rooted jazz heritage, perfectly matched by Alina Bzhezhinska-a modern pioneer of the jazz harp celebrated for her hypnotic phrasing and spiritual depth. Together, they strip away the confines of a traditional rhythm section, creating music that is quiet and meditative, boisterous and thought provoking.

Drawing inspiration from jazz traditions, deep-rooted improvisation, and heartfelt tributes to icons like Pharoah Sanders, their collaborative project Altera Vita bridges the ethereal and the earthy. Expect a captivating journey of striking contrasts and telepathic interplay, where the warmth of the tenor saxophone intertwines seamlessly with the shimmering cascades of the harp.

Tony Kofi is a multi-award-winning saxophonist, who has regularly delighted Sheffield Jazz with his bands, which included headlining its 50th anniversary concert in 2024. Alongside his solo work, his recording career that has seen collaborations with Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ornette Coleman.

Alina Bzhezhinska is one of the leading harpists in the world today. Alina is the creator of HipHarpCollective, who won the Parliamentary Jazz Award's Best Ensemble of the Year, in 2024, making history as the first harpist to receive this award.

"Wow! Altera Vita... ...shimmers with grace and beauty. [It] is a powerful, moving, take-your-breath-away masterpiece." - DOWNBEAT

"Altera Vita sparkles with the sort of improvisational magic expected of players at the top of their game, with passages changing form, finding flow, conjuring shapes and angles, in ways surprising, soothing, thoughtful and rousing." - JAZZWISE