Alina Bzhezhinska’s Hip-Harp Collective (Ukraine/UK)

Alina Bzhezhinska made history when she became the first harpist to receive the Best Jazz Ensemble of the Year award when her band Hip Harp Collective took the prize at the UK’s prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2024.

One of the leading jazz harpists in the world today, Bzhezhinska is a one-woman powerhouse on a mission to bring harp to the forefront of contemporary sound. She has collaborated with internationally renowned artists including Brian Jackson, Chaka Khan, Shabaka Hutchings, Nu Civilisation Orchestra and DJ Spinna, and has, performed to audiences across the globe. Hip Harp Collective’s performance at Triskel Arts Centre in 2024 was one of that year’s highlights of that year’s Cork Jazz Festival.

Described by the Evening Standard as a “modern-day supremo,” Ukraine-born Bzhezhinska brings a fresh, dynamic vision to the harp, honouring jazz icons Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby while incorporating elements of trip-hop and acid jazz into her music.

With Hip Harp Collective she’s played in recent times also at the London Jazz Festival, Finland’s Tampere Jazz Festival, Paris Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Club in London, The Royal Albert Hall and at the WOMADelaide Festival in Australia.

Alina Bzhezhinska will be accompanied for her Bray show by long-time collaborator, the top UK saxophonist Toni Kofi, and by Matt Holmes (Drums), Menelik Clafey (Double Bass) and Joel Prime (percussion).