Tony Kofi

Tony Kofi
Background information
Born (1966-07-10) 10 July 1966 (age 58)
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute
Years active1991–present
LabelsSpecific Jazz, The Last Music Company

Tony Kofi (born 10 July 1966)[1] is a British jazz saxophonist and flautist. He leads a trio and quartet and is co-founder of the Monk Liberation Band.[2][3] His trio includes drummer Winston Clifford and Hammond B3 organist Anders Olinder.[4] Kofi is signed to the Specific Jazz label.[5] He has twice won BBC Jazz Awards: Best Instrumentalist in 2008 and Best Album in 2005 for All Is Know.[6][7] Tony joined Grand Union Orchestra in 1998, led by artistic director Tony Haynes, and has been a prominent player ever since.[8] In May 2021 Kofi appeared on BBC Radio 4 to discuss his early life and the life-changing event that led him to take up the saxophone.[9]

  1. ^ "Birthday Greetings to Tony Haynes at 80". London Jazz News. 10 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Xintiandi and All That Jazz". Shanghai Daily News. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  3. ^ Hewett, Ivan (15 November 2007). "Getting in the Monk Habit". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 16 January 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  4. ^ Walters, John L. (8 June 2006). "Tony Kofi". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  5. ^ Gelly, Dave (22 August 2004). "Tony Kofi Quartet Plays Monk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  6. ^ "BBC - Music - Jazz Awards 2008". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  7. ^ "BBC - Press Office - Fifth BBC Jazz Awards winners". www.bbc.co.uk. 4 July 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Tony Kofi - Grand Union Orchestra". grandunion.org.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  9. ^ Wallis, Lucy (10 September 2021). "Life Changing - The near-death experience that made me a musician". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2021.