TIME: 8.00 – 11.00 pm

TICKETS:  £14

PERSONNEL

Alina Bzhezhinska – harp
Tony Kofi – saxophones
Joel Prime – drums / percussion

Alina and Tony Kofi return to the East Side after last years sold out performance . They have been recorded a new duo Altera Vita and will be playing tunes from that plus favourites from last time. A review from Downbeat magazine “Altera Vita is a powerful, moving, take-your-breath-away masterpiece.”

“Alina Bzhezhinska… a modern-day supremo…

among the best contemporary harpists…” – Evening Standard

Undoubtedly one of the leading harpists in the world today, Alina Bzhezhinska is a one-woman powerhouse on a mission to bring the harp to the fore of contemporary sound.

A jazz harpist, composer, band leader, and a founder of contemporary music platform : HipHarpCollective. Together, they create a sound that can penetrate any size venue, any genre, any generation, and any musical taste.

From Royalty to the jazz greats of today – Alina Bzhezhinska has performed at Balmoral Castle for HM the Queen’s 80th Birthday; was commissioned by the Thai monarchy to arrange the music written by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and more recently; can be found creating with UK jazz frontrunners Kamaal Williams on “Wu Hen”, and Ben Marc on “Breath Suite B”. With remixes of her forthcoming single, ‘Paris Sur  Le Toit’ (BBE) by DJ Spinna (NYC) and Slide Johnson (Paris), there’s no limits to where Alina’s music can go. 

Having studied Classical Harp at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, obtained a Masters in Arts in Poland, a spot at the University of Arizona to study jazz ensued. Relocating to the UK in 2002, Bzhezhinska went on to become the resident harp tutor at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Scotland for seven years.     

In November 2017, Bzhezhinska stormed the London’ jazz scene when her quartet appeared at the Barbican during the EFG London Jazz Festival alongside Denys Baptiste and Pharoah Sanders – subsequently nominated for ‘Best Live Experience of the Year’ at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards. 

In 2018 Bzhezhinska produced her critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Inspiration’ (Ubuntu Music), featuring award winning saxophonist Tony Kofi. This project was supported by PRS Women Make Music Award. Going on to represent the UK with her quartet at the WOMADelaide Festival in Australia, live performances for BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM followed along with appearances at Edinburgh International Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Cadogan Hall for EFG London Jazz fest 2021, Jazz Cafe London, Jazz Connective, and Periscope Musciques Innovates.

She’s opened for Gregory Porter and Omar, while collaborators include Ursula Rucker, Niki King, Django Bates, and The Third Orchestra. Most recently, collaborating with Shabaka Hutchings on his highly anticipated album, Afrikan Culture.

Creatively inspired, Bzhezhinska formed, HipHarpCollective, both band, community, and explorational lab; focusing on the development of contemporary harp with exchanges of technique, from electronic music makers, producers, and harp lovers.  You will be able to hear all the influences, passion, and these communications on their latest album – ‘Reflections’ due to be released this September (BBE Music) with a launch event at the exceptional, Kings Place. You can listen to the first single, ‘Soul Vibrations’ here. It truly is a love letter to the greats and the future of the harp through Alina’s eyes and talents. 

“HipHarp draws from a variety of influences,” explains Alina, “Drawing from the likes of Dorothy Ashby’s ‘Afro-harping’, Alice Coltrane & Joel Henderson’s free form jazz experimentation; as well as 90s Triphop and Afrobeat…” 

Back in March 2022, Alina Bzhezhinska & HipHarpCollective launched their promotional tour at the legendary, Ronnie Scott’s and from that, they’ve been invited to perform at The Love Supreme Festival, The World Music Festival in Warsaw, Edinburgh Jazz Festival and The World Harp Congress.

In support of her country of origin, Ukraine, Bzhezhinska strongly condemned the Russian invasion on her homeland and took an active role in organising and curating concerts for Ukraine with UK leading musicians and collecting donations for Ukrainian artists and their families. She  performed over 20 concerts in the first 3 months of the war; assembling funds for Red Cross and Come Back Alive charities as well as helping people on the ground. Even donating her re-mix of ‘Annoying Semitones’ with hip-hop and grime producer Diamondz, to Music Aid for Ukraine charity (Ubuntu Music) that was released on all digital platforms in May 2022.

“Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet… throws a spellbinding party to awaken the senses”

– London Jazz News

…Bzhezhinska shares with Alice (Coltrane) a mastery of the jazz harp.”

★★★★★, The Times   

“Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska is becoming a significant presence across the entire

European Scene”
– Downbeat Magazine

“…Bzhezhinska shares with Alice (Coltrane) a mastery of the jazz harp.”

★★★★★, The Times