AB Workshops
Music Workshops – 07711 998058
The Jazz Africa Workshop with Tony Kofi and Basil Hodge12th - 13th September 2026
St Leonards Hotel, Ringwood, BH24 2NR
The Jazz Africa Workshop with Tony Kofi and Basil Hodge12th - 13th September 2026
St Leonards Hotel, Ringwood, BH24 2NR
AB Workshops are delighted to host The Jazz Africa Workshop with Tony Kofi and Basil Hodge, 12th / 13th September 2026
Covering the music of Afrobeat, Township and Funk. Two amazing course leaders!
The main aim of the workshop is to teach the musicians to play African influenced music on their respective instruments as part of a band, finishing with a final performance of the pieces at the end of day two. There will be four pieces in total.
There will also be a session where all musicians learn to play:
a) a percussion instrument e,g shakers, Djembe, tambourine etc
b) polyrhythms by creating 4 bar ostinatos
A look at videos of the pioneers and main artists of African music (Afrobeat, Highlife, Township etc). Discuss the styles and influences.
Tony Kofi is a British Jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, a player of the Alto, Baritone, Soprano, Tenor saxophones and flute. Having ‘cut his teeth’ in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority. As well as performing and recording with Gary Crosby’s “Nu-Troop” and “Jazz Jamaica”, Tony’s playing has also been a feature of many bands and artists he has worked/recorded with include “US-3” The World Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, The David Murray Big Band, Sam Rivers Rivbe Big band, Andrew Hill Big Band, Abdullah Ibrahim, Macy Gray, Julian Joseph Big band, Harry Connick JR, Byron Wallen’s Indigo, Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s Coltrane Configurations and Ornette Coleman.
Winner of the BBC Jazz Awards 2005 – Album of the Year
Winner of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008 – Best Instrumentalist
Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2005 – Best Ensemble
Nominee, Mobo Awards 2008
Winner of the Jack Petchey Foundation Award 2015
Winner of the Black Achievers Cultural, Music and Arts Award 2016
Presto Music Award 2020
Winner, Best instrumentalist Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2022
His fluent and fiery hard-bop style makes him constantly in demand. He currently leads his own Tony Kofi Quartet, Tony Kofi Sphinx Trio, Future Passed Trio and is also the co-founder with Jonathan Gee of the Monk Liberation Front, a group that is dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk. Tony’s latest project sees him performing with Alex Webb’s Café Society Swing, Arnie Somogyi’s Jump Monk, Larry Bartley’s Just US Quartet, Larry Bartley Trio featuring Tony Kofi, Adrian Reid Quartet, a double leaders project with Alan Barnes called Aggregation, Orphy Robinson’s Bobby Hutcherson songbook project, Alina Bzhezhinska Hip Harp Collective, Jo Harrop’s Fever, Portrait of Cannonball (Music dedicated to Cannonball Adderley).
Currently teaching at Trinity Laban conservatoire, Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, World Heartbeat Academy and University of West London. Awarded an Honorary Professorship Nottingham University 2021.
Basil Hodge is a pianist, composer, bandleader and educator. His interest in music and the piano started at junior school. His quest to become a jazz musician started in earnest when he undertook classical piano lessons from a local teacher for a few years. He then went on to have private lessons with jazz pianist/composer Tim Richards from 1986 – 89. He rounded off his training at Goldsmiths College, London in 1991.
His professional career started in the summer of 1993 as a freelance musician and he rose up the ranks to play with some of the leading UK players such as Jim Mullen, Byron Wallen, Dave O’Higgins and Renato D’Aiello. In November 2003, Basil produced and released his debut CD My Guardian Angel featuring his original compositions, which led to a distribution deal with New Note Records. The CD received critical acclaim and airplay. His second album ‘Sound Reasoning was released in October 2009, distributed by Proper Note Ltd. The CD contained 10 more fresh and exciting originals from Basil’s pen, confirming his stature as an established composer. Sound Reasoning received rave reviews, including a 4-star rating from Jack Massarik (Evening Standard). He appeared on Claire Martin’s Jazz Line Up show (BBC Radio 3) to talk about his album and musical influences. He also performed a live solo piano piece for the programme. Three of the main jazz DJs from Jazz FM, Helen Mayhew, Mike Chadwick and Sarah Ward have all recently played his music.
Basil has been leading his bands (trio, quartet and quintet) since 1995 and has performed in such venues as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express (Soho), Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth and The National Theatre, plus numerous Jazz Festivals. He has played in various R&B and Gospel bands in the UK and abroad (Germany and Switzerland).
Basil’s most recent album, A Point of Reference, was released in November 2021, again backed by Proper Records
In 2022, Basil took part in filming for The Crown Series 6 (Netflix) and Steve McQueen’s film ‘Blitz’. Basil was the pianist in both sessions as part of a 1930’s/40’s Big Band. At the beginning of 2025, he appeared in a couple of scenes for Netflix’s Bridgerton as both a solo pianist and a member of a quartet.
- Based at St Leonards Hotel in beautiful Dorset, with excellent facilities
- Two full days of tutor lead sessions, four sessions per day
- Suitable for the following instruments: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Flute, Drums, Keys, Bass, Guitar
- Workshop runs from 10am – 4.30pm each day, with two 30 minute breaks and a 1 hour lunch break
- Optional: A Hot lunch (including requirements such as vegetarian, gluten intolerance etc)
- Refreshments; Tea, coffee (including freshly made filter coffee), juices, a variety of biscuits, fresh pastries
- Prices range from £150 – £180 for two days
- FREE parking
- On-site accommodation (subject to availability). Not included in the price, please book direct with the hotel
- Safe, simple, secure. We have now set it up for you to be able to book easier than ever before, simply BOOK ONLINE
- Payment plan scheme now available; pay £25 upfront and then pay monthly by direct debit for the balance
Alternatively if you have any questions on the suitability of this course for you we will be happy to help. Contact us at hello@abworkshops.com or by calling 07711 998058 and we will be happy to discuss your needs further.
Arrive: 9.30am onwards
Session one: 10am – 11.15am
Morning break: 11.15am – 11.45am
Session two: 11.45am – 1pm
Lunch: 1pm – 2pm
Session three: 2pm – 3pm
Afternoon break: 3pm – 3.30pm
Session four: 3.30pm – 4.30pm
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