LONDON—BBC and Parliamentary Jazz Awards winner Tony Kofi will release ANOTHER KIND OF SOUL 24th April on The Last Music Company label. Thealbum, recorded live at Luton’s Bear Club in 2019 by Paul Riley, also features Andy Davies on trumpet, pianist Alex Webb, bassist Andrew Cleyndert and Alfonso Vitale on drums.  The session traces the explosive music of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley from his first sessions as leader in the mid-1950s through his work with Miles Davis to the soul-jazz of the 1960s. The album is available in limited edition vinyl—the medium of Adderley’s era—to best replicate the ambience of this remarkable live recording.It will also be released in digital formats.

Kofi cites the work of Adderley as an early inspiration.  “The first recording I ever heard of Cannonball’s was of the Quintet with the opening track “Arriving Soon.” It opens with his lone saxophone. I was 17 and from that moment on, I was hypnotised as if the pied piper had called out to me. I swore that before I got a good technique on the saxophone, I would first acquire a voice that people could recognise and relate to. Cannonball’s sound is like a human voice. He had his own personal sound, which is like finding the rarest diamond that only belongs to you. His sense of rhythm was a revelation,” says Tony Kofi of the jazz giant.

The setlist includes Adderley brothers classics like “Things Are Getting Better,” “Work Song,” “Sack O’Woe,” and boasts two originals. “A Portrait of Cannonball” explores Adderley’s breadth of style and was composed for the project by Alex Webb. “Operation Breadbasket” is a Kofi composition which pays tribute to Cannonball’s support of young Jazz musicians. 

“Selecting the material was a really tough decision because we have so many, but we chose a combination of his really famous pieces and some not so well known…” says Kofi.  He continues, “…the great thing about recording live is it gives you a real edge to perform and record--it’s a wonderful feeling, when you connect with the audience, and they with you. A lot of the solos I played were inspired by this connection.”

Kofi will begin touring in support of the album this Spring.

TOUR DATES AT PRESS TIME:

28.03.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Hampstead Jazz Club, London (Quartet)

24.04.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Underground, Royal & Derngate,Northampton (Northants Contemporary Jazz)

25.04.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Verdict Jazz Club, Brighton

12.05.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London

24.05.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Letchworth Broadway Theatre

30.05.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Kino-Teatr, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex

31.05.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Northwood House Cowes, Isle Of White Jazz Festival

04.06.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Hideaway Live, London

05.07.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London

17.07.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball featuring Vimala Row, Hull Truck Theatre, Hull Jazz Festival

18.07.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham

02.09.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London

11.09.2020 Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball, Birmingham Jazz

TRACKLISTING:

1              A Portrait of Cannonball  Live      02:22      (Alex Webb)      

2              Operation Breadbasket Live       02:17      (Tony Kofi)          

3              Another Kind of Soul Live            04:35      (Nat Adderley)  

4              Stars Fell on Alabama Live           06:01     (Frank Perkins/Mitchell Parish)  

5              Things Are Getting Better Live    07:25      (Julian Adderley)

6              Sack O' Woe Live                           07:32     (Julian Adderley)              

7              Work Song Live                              06:14      (Julian Adderley)

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