Profiles

In July 2005, Tony Kofi's album 'All is Know' won the 'Line-Up Album of the Year' award at the BBC Jazz Awards.

At the awards Tony was among the heroes of jazz and admits "It was amazing to be there."

For much of his career he has stayed in relative obscurity.

"My saving grace was serving my apprenticeship under people like Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers, David Murray…"

However, at school (Alderman Derbyshire in Bulwell) he never showed any interest in music.

He says, "I was more into carpentry. I didn't really like music… but played a lot of table tennis."

Tony Kofi

The moment Tony decided on a future in music could have easily ended in his death. He fell from a three storey building and on the way down his future life flashed before his eyes.

He says, "Everything became very, very slow. In my mind's eye I saw many, many things; children that I hadn't even had yet, friends that I had never seen but are now my friends.

"The thing that really stuck in my mind was playing an instrument which was very strange. [I thought] Why is it that I'm seeing all these images?"

Tony did have to go to hospital but only had concussion. It could have been much worse.

Tony is hoping to be playing in Nottingham in December 2005.