On Sat 23 May, two of London’s premier saxophonists, Denys Baptiste and Tony Kofi, reunite at the RNCM to pay tribute to the profoundly influential partnership of jazz legends Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley and John Coltrane.
Part of this year’s manchester jazz festival, the one-off performance showcases Baptiste and Kofi’s complementary verve and technical virtuosity, backed by a stellar rhythm session across a set curated to channel the incendiary spirit of the midcentury music titans.
Baptiste, described by Time Magazine as ‘the icon of British jazz’, brings fluid technique and broad-based improvisational flair, captivating audiences with his boundless energy.
Kofi, a British multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents and a veteran of the early 90s Jazz Warriors, joins Baptiste with his distinctive, fiery hard-bop style and award-winning pedigree.
Together, the duo draw on a deep mutual understanding of Coltrane and Adderley to deliver a spellbinding performance, with Jazz FM‘s Nigel Williams noting that they have ‘a particular talent for capturing the magic of these two jazz legends.’
Book tickets below.
Sat 23 May, 7.30pm, RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD, £27.50
rncm.ac.uk
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Tue 28 Apr 2026
