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We are pleased to announce that the Arts Councils new National Portfolio Organisations includes Birmingham Jazz in a exciting new partnership with Town Hall Symphony Hall.
Town Hall Symphony Hall and Birmingham Jazz have been successful in their application for Arts Council funding, and have been offered a place in the Arts Council’s National Portfolio programme. Funding has been granted for an outstanding music programme together with a new and powerful force in jazz-based education and community work.
“We believe that this partnership, which builds on many previous joint successes, will deliver an enhanced and focused programme that will broaden opportunities to engage with live music through education and concert going in Birmingham.”
Tony Dudley-Evans, Artistic Director, Birmingham Jazz
We are also delighted to announce that Birmingham Jazz has been nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Award in the Jazz Promoter of the Year category. Birmingham Jazz are one of the two organisations out of the six nominated in this category based outside of London.
The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and feature nine categories which are filled with publicly nominated British jazz musicians, ensembles, broadcasters, journalists, jazz publications and educators. We are particularly pleased to see the great Django Bates (who was guest soloist for Sid Peacock’s Surge concert at mac last week) nominated twice in the Jazz Musician and Jazz Album of the Year categories. The nominations were shortlisted by a panel of selected members of the jazz community and the final voting is made by members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group in Parliament. The winners will be announced on May 17th at a special reception.
Thank you to all of those who voted for us!
Mostly Jazz Festival 2011
Taking place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July the second Mostly Jazz Festival is shaping up to be full of big names such as Festival headliners The Cinematic Orchestra and The Matthew Herbert Big Band and interesting local artists like Steve Tromans Debop Band and Lluis Mather & Noose. The festival will bring three days of live soul, funk and jazz to the beautiful setting of Moseley Park. For more details including how to book tickets please go to www.mostlyjazz.co.uk
Gigs
Mostly Jazz Festival Launch feat. Matthew Halsall
Thursday 14th April
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
8pm, free
Trumpet player Matthew Halsall is the ideal choice to perform for the Mostly Jazz Festival Launch at the Hare & Hounds. Championed by Gilles Peterson, who is headlining the festival, Matt's quintet features Nat Birchill on soprano and tenor sax, Taz Modi on piano, Gavin Barras on double bass and Gaz Hughes on drums. His cool, contemporary jazz went down a storm at Rush Hour Blues at Symphony Hall last May and we are delighted to see him back in Birmingham.
Chris Gumbley Quintet Cannonball Adderley Tribute
Tuesday 19th April
The Jam House
9.30pm, free entry
Saxophonist, composer, educator and bandleader Chris Gumbley steps up for our third session at the Jam House in March and April with his tribute to the great saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Covering the period from 1955 – 1967, the quintet incorporate the well trodden classics such as Work song and Mercy, mercy, mercy into their set as well as some lesser known gems. Joining Chris are Neil Yates on trumpet, Dan Nicholls on piano, Tom Hill on bass and Carl Hemmingsley on drums.
Michael Janisch's Paradigm Shift
Wednesday 27th April
The Cross, Moseley
8pm, £8 (afternoon workshop £5 and workshop £9)
American born bassist Micheal Janisch is no stranger to regular gig-goers in Birmingham. Although he lives in London he has performed here on many occasions with a plethora of different artists. For this Cobweb Collective session upstairs at The Cross in Moseley, Michael leads his new band Paradigm Shift featuring Jason Palmer on trumpet, Paul Booth on saxophones and Leonardo Genovese on piano. The band will also be delivering a workshop in the afternoon and there is discounted entry if you want to attend both. For more information contact: aaron@cobwebcollective.com
Coming up
Esther Miller Duo
Friday 6th May
Jazz at Bohemia
from 7.30pm
Bohemia Restaurant
23 Oak Tree Lane
Selly Oak
Fabulous monthly jazz sessions in the intimate and contemporary setting of Bohemia Restaurant, Selly Oak. This month featuring popular jazz singer Esther Miller.
Ben Markland Quintet
Tuesday 24th May
The Jam House
9.30pm, free
Birmingham based bass player Ben Markland leads this exciting quintet featuring Percy Pursglove on trumpet, Lluis Mather on saxophone, Pete Harris on guitar and Neil Bullock on drums.
Big Cat
Wednesday 25th May
Jazz Club at The Rainbow
9pm, £5
Led by bass player Ruth Goller, a dynamic young jazz musician integral to the London contemporary scene, Big Cat is the larger version of her trio Small Cat. She is perhaps best known for her work with genre bursting group, Acoustic Ladyland.Ruth is joined in Big Cat by Kit Downes on Hammond, James Allsopp on saxophone and Tim Giles on drums.
Rush Hour Blues
Symphony Hall Foyer Fridays, 5.30-7.00pm Free!
Friday 8th April: Charlotte Glasson
Friday 15th April:Sam Coombes Quartet
Friday 22nd April: NO GIG Good Friday
Friday 29th April: Lizzy Parks
Friday 6th May: NO GIG
Friday 13th May: Mark Goodchild Band
Other gigs
Jazz at the Spotted Dog
Alcester Street, Digbeth
Great live jazz session run by saxophonist Mike Fletcher every tuesday from 8pm presenting local young bands. Free entry and student and musican drinks offers.
Cobweb Collective
Alex Merritt / John Turville
Wednesday 6th April
upstairs The Cross, Moseley
9pm
Cobweb Collective present Alex Merrit on saxophone and John Turville on piano.
“Alex has something special and original - an intriguing harmonic ear and an intrepid rhythmic flare.”- Mike Gibbs
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Birmingham Jazz , Studio 8 Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SE +44 (0)121 2247380 info@birminghamjazz.co.uk www.birminghamjazz.co.uk
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