Tony Kofi kicks it with NYJO for Monk at Town Hall tour

Recently the recipient of the Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, saxophonist Tony Kofi is set to embark on one of his most ambitious projects to date when he teams up with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) for a tour this autumn presenting music from Thelonious Monk’s classic 1959 album Monk at Town Hall.

The original album features a stellar line-up with the likes of Donald Byrd, Phil Woods, Charlie Rouse, Pepper Adams, Sam Jones, Art Taylor and more on a seminal large ensemble recording, which will be recreated under the direction of Tony Kofi and NYJO’s dectet of emerging UK talent. The brass-meets-rhythm section configuration will be performed by a band of George Garford (alto sax), Emma Rawicz (tenor sax), Alex Clarke (baritone sax), Ewan Parkin (trumpet), Johan Stone (French Horn), James Wade-Sired (trombone), Hanna Mbuya (tuba), Matt Jacobs (piano), Myra Brownbridge (bass) and Cassius Cobbson (drums).

Commenting on the project Kofi said: "The music of Thelonious Sphere Monk is like a journey into the past, present and future all at the same time." Date are: Jazz Café, London (23 Sept); Brighton Jazz Festival, venue TBC (29 Sept); Wilshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon (30 Sept); Museum of Making, Derby (08 Oct); Band On The Wall, Manchester (26 Oct); Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds (27 Oct) and RWCMD, Cardiff (11 Nov).

For more info visit www.nyjo.org.uk