The Jazz Africa Experience

Jazz Africa is the latest project by the fine pianist and composer Basil Hodge. The band features the key figure of Tony Kofi on saxophones. The music is Jazz fused with Afrobeat, Township and Funk rhythms. The audience is invited to join in to create some percussion rhythms as part of the Jazz Africa experience. Basil Hodge's 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. 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 National Theatre Foyers, the Swanage and Ealing Jazz Festivals, The Vortex Jazz Club, The Crypt, The Hideaway, Boxford Fleece, Watermills Jazz, The Bonington Theatre and The Verdict Jazz Club. He has played in various R&B and Gospel bands in the UK and abroad (Germany and Switzerland). Basil has released three albums to critical acclaim, all backed by Proper Records. His latest record 'A Point of Reference' confirmed his status as "a very fine composer" In 2022, Basil took part in filming for The Crown Series 6 (Netflix) and Steve McQueen’s film ‘Blitz’.