Steve Lehman Octet
Friday 21st January
CBSO Centre
8pm
At the frontier of contemporary music Brooklyn born Steve Lehman and his octet have developed a sound that combines jazz and contemporary classical music.He has been recognised as a major talent worldwide and named a Downbeat Magazine International Critics Poll Rising Star four times. Lehman has performed and recorded with renowed artists such as Anthony Braxton, Mark Dresser, Vijay Iyer, and High Priest of Anti-Pop Consortium.
Produced by Sound and Music and Birmingham Jazz this concert is part of a short tour of Lehman's octet which features Jonathan Finlayson on trumpet,Mark Shim on tenor sax, Tim Albright on trombone, Chris Dingman on vibraphone, Drew Gress on double bass, Dan Peck on tuba and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. This is set to be a magnificent concert to start the new year and highly recommended.
Trio VD & Husk Double Bill
Jazz Club 5th Anniversary special
Wednesday 26th January
The Rainbow Courtyard
9pm
£5
Jazz Club at the Rainbow is an important part of the Birmingham Jazz programme often featuring young exciting projects which flourish in the vibey atmosphere of The Rainbow Courtyard. Regularly featured as listen again live recordings on our website the Jazz Club session have produced a fascinating range of live performances. Wednesday 26th January is a double bill marking the 5th anniversary and features two excellent UK bands; Sam Wooster’s husk and Trio VD.
Trio VD
“…earth shattering, taking a sledgehammer to preconceived limitations of jazz…” TimeOut Magazine
This mighty Trio of Chris Sharkey on guitar Christophe de Bezenac on saxophone and Chris Bussey on drums are veterans of Jazz Club, their electrifying virtuosity flows through the wave of jazz metal creating a mesmerising show. Awarded Best Jazz CD of 2009 by Mojo Magazine for their album Fill it Up With Ghosts (Babel Label)we are delighted they’re back to very loudly celebrate our 5th anniversary.
Husk
Trumpet player Sam Wooster is a Birmingham based musician who drawing from influences like Cuong Vu has produced a sound and music ethic focused toward the experimental and free spectrum of jazz with influences from metal band Meshuggah. This new project Husk features Jimmy Brewer on guitar, Jim Bashford on drums and Ashley Trigg on bass.
“Punchy rock sound…..A broad based player…..Very Promising “(John Fordham, on BBC Radio 3) on Sam Wooster
Andy Derrick & Mike Kemp
Friday 4th February
7.30pm
£25.00 ( including a 3 course meal)
Jazz at Bohemia
Bohemia Restaurant
23 Oak Tree Lane
Selly Oak
Telephone bookings: 0121 4712713. Advance booking essential .
Uri Caine meets Mahler
Saturday 5th February
Town Hall
7.30pm
£17.50 ( £14.50)
A short commission for music for a film about Mahler, led New York jazz musician Uri Caine to a year-long immersion in Mahler’s music. The outcome was the acclaimed CDPrimal Light, based on music from the Fifth Symphony and awarded first prize by the Mahler Society in 1997 for the best interpretation of Mahler’s music.
Caine’s engagement with Mahler is profound. He and his outstanding New York ensemble work with material from the symphonies and song cycles that lends itself to a broadly jazz improvisatory treatment. They explore a range of possibilities inherent in originals but not always apparent in the classical versions.
Caine’s inspired re-imaginings of Mahler’s music have won plaudits from classical and jazz audiences alike.
Part of the Birmingham Mahler Cycle
Uri Caine piano
Chris Batchelor trumpet
Chris Speed clarinet/sax
Josefina Vergara violin
John Hebert double bass
Jim Black drums
DJ Olive turntables
Rush Hour Blues
Symphony Hall Foyer Fridays, 5.30-7pm Free!
Friday 7th January : Bryan Corbett Quartet
Friday 14th January : Walsall Jazz Orchestra
Friday 21st January : Chris Biscoe Band
Friday 28th January: Olivia Moore and Unfurl
Friday 4th February : Sara Colman
Friday 11th February: Chris Gumbley Cannonball Adderley Project
