Sharp Little Bones ft Tony Kofi [Jazz]

“Passionate… superb… heartfelt” – The Guardian

“engaging… hugely varied, well-presented double album characterised by élan and enthusiasm – this would be good to hear live”  Rating: ★★★★ Peter Vacher, Jazzwise

“The music and sound immediately felt unique, and the band’s performance got the crowd whooping. The audience demanded more… this night was a pleasure to behold” – London Jazz News

“a very good example of contemporary composition and playing with a firm nod the classic jazz era. If the opportunity arises to see and hear them live I will take it!” – Simply Jazz Talk

“Despite being a “new” band, Sharp Little Bones’s music is mature. The songs bristle with energy and a certain amount of daring born of surety and delight in their music….organic and polished. This is a band to watch to see what happens next” – Ben Miller, Jazz Views

Sharp Little Bones is the brainchild of bassist and composer Simon Paterson. Joined by MOBO-nominated, multi-BBC Jazz and Parliamentary Jazz Awards winner Tony Kofi, they are a quartet of virtuosos playing brand-new compositions that are tight, energetic, catchy, and melodic. Well experienced in entertaining audiences, their sound has fresh, contemporary appeal: live acoustic forces rooted in bebop and blues, embellished with tasteful electronics and warm, analogue synth textures: an eclectic audio melting pot of jazz, funk, blues, and bop. Taking the listener on an eventful excursion of harmonic, melodic and rhythmical delight, this is music composed and improvised for feet, heart, and mind.

Released on May 26th, 2023, Sharp Little Bones (Volumes I & II) was recorded high on the buzz from their sell-out shows and during the hottest two days of summer 2022 at Metronome, Nottingham.  The double album of entirely new, exciting music captures the energy, virtuosity, and soul of the house trio of Peggy’s Skylight (a multi-award-winning jazz venue). The album’s compositions reach deep within and far outside the jazz canon.

Expect to hear catchy, energetic tracks, beautiful bass-led melodies, spacious ballads, spiritual and expansive atmospheres, hard swingers, and groove-led pieces full of vibe. There’s freedom for expressive solos and group-led improvisation within well-crafted, melodic writing and tight, rhythmical arrangements.

“Finding the right musical direction, the right musicians, sounding original, authentic  and — an often overlooked ingredient — having the desire to communicate: Sharp Little  Bones ticks all those boxes” – Stuart Nicholson

Line up:
Tony Kofi – tenor saxophone
Simon Paterson – upright and electric bass
Paul Deats – electric piano, synth
Andrew Wood – drums