Kofi

KOFI is the new sound of URBAN JAZZ, a unique blend of musical influences ranging from his native AFRICAN rhythms, his CLASSICAL training, his love for JAZZ and his URBAN sensibility.

From a very early age, KOFI has been deeply immersed in music, beginning his classical training in Brussels, Belgium at age 7. Back in his native Ghana, West Africa, he relentlessly practiced at his beloved keyboard, this time under the influence of AFRICAN HIGH LIFE, and equally important, the sleek AMERICAN JAZZ inflections of RAMSEY LEWIS, JOE SAMPLE and others whose playing the youthful KOFI emulated and built upon.

After leaving Ghana in 1982, KOFI became a resident of Buffalo, New York, where he drew from the rich catalogue of musical greats in that city, so much so that upon hearing an album, "SLOW BUT SURE", that KOFI had recorded and distributed locally, long-standing music industry impresario Leonard Silver signed KOFI to AMHERST RECORDS, former home of local act SPYRO GYRA, and more recently, chart-topping GLENN MEDEIROS.Silver set to work creating a completely fresh new album by pairing KOFI with producer JEFF TYZIK, himself a noted jazz artist.

The result, "HARLEM NOCTURNE", so impressed JOEL BONNER, Vice President of WARLOCK RECORDS, that Joel immediately arranged for Warlock to distribute and market the album. Bonner was overwhelmingly confident that "HARLEM NOCTURNE" could repeat Warlock's earlier success with KIM WATERS, whose saxophone-led jazz/urban albums were hitting at urban, jazz and NAC radio."HARLEM NOCTURNE" so impressed Program Directors from coast to coast, that it received such heavy airplay and was listed in 1990 as one of the most added LP's to radio in issue number 866 of the R&R Report. Kofi's seductive piano rendition of the classic jazz standard, "Harlem Nocturne," was included in 1996 as one of the tracks for KKSF Radio's CD sampler number seven, of which partial proceeds were used to benifit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and AIDS Resources, Information and Services (ARIS) of Santa Clara.

KOFI became a resident of Sacramento, California in 1993 and recorded a third album entitled "THAT LOVING FEELING", which featured a variety of artists, such as saxophonist and flautist CHRIS VADALA (formerly with the CHUCK MANGIONE group) and saxophonist KIM WATERS. This album, which contained a soulful rendition of the RAMSEY LEWIS and EARTH, WIND & FIRE classic, "Sun Goddess", was very well received by the public.Services (ARIS) of Santa Clara.

KOFI has recently recorded his fourth album entitled "A TOUCH OF EBONY", which features him at his very best along with other guest musicians including CHRIS VADALA once again on SAXES and FLUTES. The album is a splendid combination of brand new material as well as re-recorded and re-mixed new versions of some of his earlier material from all three of his previous albums.This album was especially designed to attract a MAJOR LABEL. As is evident right from the very first brand new title track, the quality of this album reflects KOFI's maturity, not only as an artist and keyboardist, but also as a composer, arranger, and producer.

KOFI is sure to become a name synonymous with the cool urban sounds of the new millennium.