HipHarpCollective
“The musicians – extremely close-knit... played a set of undisputed beauty. Breathtaking.”
Jazzitalia, Munster Jazz Festival
“Tony Kofi and Alina Bzhezhinska offered us two hours of joy. Forget the curfew — let them play all night!”
Live review, Make Music Not War Medium
“Bzhezhinska’s command of her complex, delicate-seeming instrument is astounding.”
Irish Examiner, Cork Jazz Festival
HipHarp Collective is Award-winning jazz group of exceptional musicians bringing the harp to the forefront of contemporary jazz.
Founded by Ukrainian-born harpist Alina Bzhezhinska, the group's journey began at the 2017 EFG London Jazz Festival, where her original quartet performed alongside legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. The performance was nominated for a JazzFM Award for Best Live Act and opened a new chapter in band’s international career.
Inspired by the pioneering music of Alice and John Coltrane, Bzhezhinska has spent years developing her own distinctive sound, blending spiritual jazz, African rhythms, Eastern European influences and adventurous improvisation.
Over the past decade, the Collective has featured outstanding musicians and special guests including Brian Jackson, Jay Phelps and Denys Baptiste.
HipHarp Collective won the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble in 2025, while the double LP Reflections(BBE Music, 2022) received Presto Music's Album of the Year recognition. Other acclaimed recordings include Inspiration (Ubuntu Music, 2018) and Altera Vita (BBE Music, 2024), an intimate collaboration with saxophonist Tony Kofi described as “a masterpiece” by DownBeat.
The group has performed internationally at WOMADelaide in Australia, Tampere Jazz Happening in Finland, Edinburgh International Festival, Paris Jazz Festival and EFG London Jazz Festival, as well as prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scott's. Their music has also been featured on BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM.
Committed to supporting grassroots jazz communities alongside major international stages, HipHarp Collective creates performances celebrated for their energy, originality and emotional depth.
The group is currently developing a concert project with choir celebrating the legacy of John and Alice Coltrane, alongside Turnings, a new album of original compositions planned for release in 2027 to mark Alice Coltrane's 90th birthday.
The musicians:
Alina Bzhezhinska - Harp, composer and bandleader
Tony Kofi - Saxophones
Menelik Claffey & Kobe Ngugi - E Bass, Double bass
Matthew Holmes - Drums
Joel Prime - Percussion
Reviews
5 Stars - Downbeat - Full Review Here
4 Stars - Jazzwise - Full Review Here
4 Stars - Marlbank - Full Review Here
Presto Music - Full Review Here
Jazz In Europe - Full Review Here
You And The Music - Full Review Here
The Entertainment Factor - Full Review Here