birmingham and solihull jazz and blues festival programme

[email protected]

HOTLINE: 0121 454 7020TWITTER: @BIRMJAZZFEST #BASJAZZ16FACEBOOk: BIRMINGHAM ANd SOLIHULL

JAZZ ANd BLUES FESTIVAL

Photo byMerlin Daleman

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FOREWORd

We are delighted to welcome back the Jazz and Blues Festival, which this year is bigger and better than ever as it expands across the region to incorporate Solihull as well as Birmingham.

With homegrown artists joining acts from Canada, Czech Republic, France, Holland, Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain and the USA, the festival provides an international soundtrack to summer in Birmingham and Solihull. And, let’s face it, there’s something really special about live music.

Now into its 32nd year, the festival continues to go from strength-to-strength, growing not just geographically, but also in terms of the wide range of exciting events and entertainment on offer – for example, in addition to an incredible 188 performances, dance events and workshops, there will also be meet-the-author book events, a photography event for people of ages and abilities, and an exhibition of paintings with an opportunity to meet the artists.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the festival organisers for their efforts in ensuring that this remains such an important and eagerly anticipated fixture in the calendar.

The festival is something we look forward to each year – there really is something for everyone and we’re sure this year’s Birmingham and Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival will be another smash hit.

Carl Rice, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council

With grateful thanks to the Festival’s Sponsors and supporters without whom there would be no Festival.

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com

32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016

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ACkNOWLEdGMENTS www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ACkNOWLEdGMENTS

BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL PO Box 944, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8UT

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com Phone: 0121 454 7020 Email: [email protected]

Performances are free unless denoted otherwise. In restaurant performances accepted etiquette applies in terms of dining.


Festival Patron: Digby FairweatherAdvisory Board: Dan Cole, Jill Hitchman, John Hemming, Derek Inman, John James, John McDermott, Melanie Palmer , David Pardoe, John Patrick, Cllr. Rob SealeyFestival Director: Jim SimpsonCommercial and Development Director: Tim Jennings Business and Marketing Manager: Yue Yang Development Manager: Nick Hart Planning and Co-ordination: Michael Fort, Louis Fernez Programme Editor: Ron SimpsonPhotographer: Merlin Daleman (www.merlindaleman.com) Programme & Publicity Design: Nerys James ([email protected]) Media: Jill Hitchman, Carole ManshipCreative Consultant: Phil ThomsonCurators of Exhibition of Photography: Casey Li, Felicity Hall, Nora Al-Hindi andFrancisca Borzea from BCUTransport Manager: Kieron BurnsTechnical Managers: Davyd Bagby, Errol Taylor, Sam Deng Operations: Carmine Marotta, Manyee YiuFilm Unit: Greg & Margaret Gdowski (www.fiftysevenstudio.com)Photography Team: Kerry Smith, Thomas Lowrey, Becca Pearce Chinese Media Team: Jie Ren, Mengnan Wang, Shasha Zhang, Shuai Yuan, Zhirong YuArtists Booking: Big Bear Music Agency 0121 454 7020 [email protected] & Backline: PMT Lawley Middleway Birmingham B4 7XX - 0121 359 5056Drums & Backline: Laney, Tama & ZildjianMobile Communications: Cartel Communications 0121 622 5555 Accountants: David Cutter & Co (www.davidcutter.co.uk)Book-Keeper: Juliet Kenny Website: Rob Sealey [www. thosecleverwebpeople.com]Hotel Partner: Hampton By Hilton [www.hampton.com]

Special Thanks To: Alan Gregory; Alan Warner; Alex Nicholson-Evans; Alex Perrins; Alice Weryk; Alison Moody; Amy Robinson; Angela Hodge; Anita Dinham; Barry Bayliss; Bob Norton; Botanical Gardens; Cathryn Boffy; Cherie Lumby; Chris Ash; Chris Hall; Curtis Buck; Dan Auty; David Pardoe; David Peace; Dean Powell; Elaine Williams; Emma Creasey; Emma Yufera-Ruiz; Fiona Lockyer; Gareth Downes; Garry Chapman; Graham Smith; Graham Young; Ilhan Ozeren; Jabbar Khan; James Burkmar; James Lagneau; James Wheeler; Jenny Wilkes; Jessica Hoyle; Jo Sweet; Joanna Westwood; John Tipton; Kerrie Barber; Kim Hill; Lawrence Smith; Leon Shutkever; Lina Higuita; Lisa Beaumont; Lucy Elvin; Luke Crane; Martyn Nelson; Matt Scriven; Melissa McMurdock; Mi Lan; Michele Wilby; Mike Bushell; Mike Olley; Natlja Bulgakova; Nigel Barker; Nikki Morris; Patrice Hourbette of Music LX; Patrick Power; Paul Roobottom; Paulo Jacinto; Peter Hodgson, Siew Kuan Yap and Lisa Travers of Blue Piano; Peter Suddock; Pip White; Rebecca Delmore; Rimante Sodeikiene & Rita Valiukonyt of Lithuanian Embassy in the UK; Robin Ford; Shannon Chu; Shannon Lewis; Simon Doyle; Steve Knights; Sushil Virmani; Tahreem Bhatti; Tony Elvin; Warwick Printing

THE JAZZ FESTIVAL BOARdBehind this short, sharp celebration of jazz, blues and related music lie many months of planning and organisation. Driving this forward is the Jazz Festival Advisory Board, a very special group of people who freely give up time, expertise and enthusiasm in order to help shape this Festival. Without the benefit of their wisdom, knowledge and encouragement it would be impossible.

The Festival is pleased to welcome two new members to The Board, both of whom joined earlier this year. John McDermott is Vice Chairman of Westside BID and Chairman of City Centre Neighbourhood Forum. Melanie Palmer is Director of Solihull BID and organised the Solihull Jazz Festival for four years before linking it with Birmingham

Find us on facebook.com/birminghamjazzfestival/

tweet us your festival pictures and reviews at @birmjazzfest and #BASJAZZ16

Dan Cole David Pardoe Derek Inman Jill Hitchman John Hemming

John James John McDermott John Patrick Melanie Palmer Rob Sealey

HAMPTON-BY-HILTON HOTELThe Hampton-by-Hilton Hotel on Broad Street is hosting six events in the festival, including talk sessions on photography and swing dancing as well as four live musical performances, climaxing with the end of festival party. Festival goers wishing to stay at the heart of the festival should contact www.hilton.com/Birmingham

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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com WELCOME

WELCOME TO THE BIRMINGHAM ANd SOLIHULL JAZZ ANd BLUES FESTIVAL 2016! I've had the privilege of writing this joyful greeting annually for eight years now; ever since the Festival's founder-patron - the late great Humphrey Lyttelton - died (very inconsiderately I thought!) on my birthday in April 2008. While Humph was Patron I was still doing the rounds of Big Bear’s - and always music-friendly - Festival venues as a junior trumpeteer. And once off the stand I remember looking and listening wide-eyed and open-eared to the international parade of stars - from Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis to the Modern Jazz Quartet, Count Basie Orchestra, BB King and Blues Brothers Band - who graced the earlier festivals.

But of course, as some songwriter once said, time changes everything - and in the ensuing two decades we lost many of the founding-fathers of jazz and blues music to the simple matters of time, the hour and mortality. In consequence a few more senior members of our jazz community have - however regrettably - reached out (in critic Steve Voce's resigned phrase) to 'cling to the wreckage' of what's gone before.

Not this festival however - absolutely not! Jim and his team at Big Bear have pressed forward into the 21st century, clinging not to the wreckage of older times but rather to

their solid conviction that the spirits of jazz and the blues are as alive and well as ever, and that all you need is an open mind and ears in order to hear the fruits of their heritage sensationally celebrated by newer names. And while the term 'world music' raises the occasional perturbed eyebrow among jazz aficionados there's no doubt at all that - in geographic terms alone – this festival’s music does indeed come from all over the world. Where else (over just ten days) could you hear - for just a handful of examples - the Budapest Ragtime Band (from Hungary), the New Orleans Jump Band (from Spain), Pepper and the Jellies (from Italy), the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band (from India), The Schwings with Laura Budreckyte (from Lithuania), and - oh yes, from the good ol' USA – Caleb Chapman’s Crescent Super Band, the Inevitables and Brooks Williams. But every one of these brilliantly talented acts confirms Duke Ellington's timeless adage that: 'it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing'! And none of us would have it any other way.

This year you'll find all these acts - and dozens more like them - presenting no fewer than 188 performances in over seventy venues; the kind of logistic exercise which would cross and re-cross the eyes of less active and gifted

champions. But the Festival Team have never flagged for a moment in its tireless creative commitment to the Birmingham & Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival and carried it triumphantly forward, despite financial recessions and the inevitable budget cuts that have followed. As you'll have gathered by now I'm a great big fan of this festival. Another reason why we should (in lyricist Johnny 'The Poet' Burke's words) 'shout a few hurrays' for this event is that it brings fine established artists like saxophonists Dave Gelly, Simon Spillett, Art Themen and Alan Barnes, clarinettist Julian Marc Stringle and trumpeter Bruce Adams. Oh - and me too I suppose. We'll all be there and we can't wait to see you!

Digby Fairweather

32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 201532ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016

Photo by Merlin Daleman

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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSdAY 14TH JULY 2016

12:00 Mell Square, Solihull The BroomBusTers

12:30 The Mailbox LiTTLe Jo & The misfiTs

12:30 The Square Shopping Centre C-Jam

13:10 Barber Institute of Fine Arts BruCe adams QuarTeT wiTh dave NewToN

14:00 Mell Square, Solihull simoN spiLLeTT wiTh JohN paTriCk Trio

14:00 Pizza Express, Sutton Coldfield roBerT fowLer QuarTeT

14:00 Oldbury Library The humors

16:00 Mell Square, Solihull aNdy BeNNeTT BaNd

17:00 The Brasshouse BruCe adams QuarTeT wiTh dave NewToN[Sponsored by Backyard Brewhouse]

17:00 Arcadian The BroomBusTers

17:00 Shakespeare, Lower Temple Street Les ZauTo sTompers de paris (fraNCe)

17:30 Marriott Hotel pepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

18:00 Theatre Square, Touchwood BoBBy woods QuarTeT

18:00 Suds & Duds The humors

18:30White Swan LiTTLe Jo & The misfiTs

19:00 Park Regis roBerT fowLer QuarTeT

19:00 Bacchus roy forBes Trio

19:00 Ebb and Flow suZi woods

19:00The Blue Piano Chris BowdeN & reBeCCa Nash

19:30 Ibis Birmingham Centre riCky CooL & The iN Crowd

19:30 Le Monde JohN hemmiNg & The JaZZ LoBByisTs

20:00 Shakespeare, Summer Row simoN spiLLeTT wiTh JohN paTriCk Trio

21:00 Broadway Casinopepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

21:00 The Dog The QuieT meN

17:30 Blue Piano Brush wiTh The BLuesLaunch of an exhibition of paintings

19:00 The Blue PianoEve of Festival Party pepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

FRIdAY 15TH JULY 2016


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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURdAY 16TH JULY 2016

12:00 BBC Birmingham The Mailbox The humorsFollow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter to experience this performance in 360° video

12:00 Mell Square, Solihull riCky CooL & The iN Crowd

12:00 Bert & Gerts MarketChase JaZZmeN

12:00Solihull Town CentreOn The Jazz TrainmaTT paLmer’s JaZZ eXpress

12:30 The Mailbox simoN spiLLeTT QuarTeT

13:00 Sandwell Park Farm BruCe adams QuarTeT wiTh dave NewToN£2.50/£2

14:00 Mell Square, Solihull The CaTfish kiNgs

14:00 Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace ukuLeLe roCks

14:00 Bandstand, Brindleyplace pepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

15:00 The Brasshouse Les ZauTo sTompers de paris (fraNCe)[Sponsored by Backyard Brewhouse]

15:00 Park Regis Brooks wiLLiams (usa)

16:00 Mell Square, Solihull dueLLiNg piaNos

16:00 Bournville Village Green digBy fairweaTher aNd The Chase JaZZmeN

17:00 Bournville Village Green LiTTLe Jo & The misfiTs

17:00 Royal Angus BruCe adams QuarTeT wiTh dave NewToN

18:00 Hampton By Hilton The humors

18:00 Bournville Village Green digBy fairweaTher aNd The Chase JaZZmeN

18:00 Theatre Square, Touchwood masai BLues

18:30 Edwardian Tea Rooms pepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

19:00 Borracho De Oro simoN spiLLeTT Trio

19:00 The Blue Piano The CaTfish kiNgs

19:30Le Monde LiTTLe Jo & The misfiTs

19:30 Wednesbury Library Brooks wiLLiams (usa)

20:00 Wellington Les ZauTo sTompers de paris (fraNCe)

Pepper and the Jellies

kEEP INFORMEdSend your email address to [email protected] to go on the free regular e-bulletin list


12:00 Park Regis pepper & The JeLLies (iTaLy)

12:00 Mell Square, Solihull Les ZauTo sTompers de paris (fraNCe)

12:00 Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace The humors

12:30 The Mailbox Lee JoNes QuarTeT feaT. aNdy shiLLiNgford

13:00 Poplar Walk Touchwood sheiLa waTerfieLd

13:00 Oak House, West Bromwich riCky CooL & The iN Crowd

14:00 Bandstand, Brindleyplace The greaT BirmiNgham TromBoNe CompaNy

14:00 Mell Square, Solihull The BusQuiTos (hoLLaNd)

14:00 Botanical Gardens The rasCaLs of rhyThm£7 & £4.75 conc

14:00 Fiddle & Bone The CaTfish kiNgs

15:00The Brasshouse arT ThemeN wiTh BriaN dee Trio

15:00 Waterstones The humors

16:00 The Stable The whiskey BroThers

17:00Slug & Lettuce, Brindleyplace digBy fairweaTher QuarTeT

18:00 Café Rouge, The Mailbox The rasCaLs of rhyThm

18:30 Soloman Cutler The BusQuiTos (hoLLaNd)

19:00 O'NeillsLes ZauTo sTompersde paris (fraNCe)

19:00 Botanical GardensBudapesT ragTime BaNd (huNgary)£12

19:00The JunctionarT ThemeN wiTh BriaN dee Trio

19:30 Lord Clifden JohN hemmiNg & The JaZZ LoBByisTs

20:00 Prince Of Wales The humors

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNdAY 17TH JULY 2016

SOLIHULL BIdFrom 2016 there is a new festival in the Midlands: the Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival. Thanks to Solihull BID an excellent Spring Bank Holiday jazz festival has developed in recent years, based around a busy all-day music stage in Mell Square. The Birmingham Festival has never been limited geographically, staging events in Sutton Coldfield, the Black Country, all across Sandwell - and, course, in Solihull - so it was a logical step to incorporate the Solihull festival into the new Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival. There are events in Solihull throughout the 10 days, but the major element remains in the format Solihull jazz fans have grown to love, a packed weekend daytime programme, the first weekend of the Festival, in Mell Square.


www.birminghamjazzfestival.com MONdAY 18TH JULY 2016

12:00 Church Street SquareBaCkyard musiC Boys

12:00 Blue Piano a Brush wiTh The BLues: meeT The arTisT mark skirviNg

12:30 The Mailbox The BusQuiTos (hoLLaNd)

12:30 The Brasshouse digBy fairweaTher wiTh BriaN dee Trio[Sponsored by Marstons]

14:00 Bournville Gardens saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

16:00 Waterstones The JaZZ rag QuiZwith Digby Fairweather and Ron Simpson

17:30 Hampton by Hilton phoTography workshop: merLiN daLemaN, fesTivaL phoTographer

19:00 Hampton by Hilton saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

19:00 Brewhouse and Kitchen, Sutton Coldfield dave geLLy wiTh BriaN dee aNd LeN skeaT

19:30 Thimblemill Library New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

19:30 Lord Clifden The BusQuiTos (hoLLaNd)

JAZZ IN THE BOTANICAL GARdENSA regular highlight of the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival has been the weekend concerts in Edgbaston’s beautiful Botanical Gardens. This year the special Sunday evening concerts feature two colourful and entertaining bands. On June 17 the Budapest Ragtime Orchestra take to the stand, to be followed a week later by this year’s most exotic festival debutants, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band.

Tickets from www.theticketsellers.co.uk or 0121 454 1860

The Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival is very grateful for the support of Birmingham business in the form of the Colmore Business District, the Jewellery Quartet BID, Sutton Coldfield BID and the Westside BID.

PMT PMT, suppliers of equipment to the Festival, is the biggest and best guitar showroom in Birmingham. PMT can be found on Lawley Middleway (phone 0121 359 5056) or online at www.pmtonline.co.uk/birmingham.html

The Busquitos


www.birminghamjazzfestival.com TUESdAY 19TH JULY 2016

12:00 Cathedral Grounds The BusQuiTos (hoLLaNd)

12:30 The Mailbox sarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)

12:30 The Brasshouse dave geLLy wiTh BriaN dee Trio[Sponsored by Marstons]

12:30 Strada, ICC saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

14:00 BBC Birmingham Mailbox sTriCTLy JiTTerBug: daNCe sessioN aNd LessoNsFollow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter to experience this performance in 360° video

15:00 Hagley Road Village New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

17:00 New Street Station saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

18:00 WaterstonesmeeT The phoTographer: fesTivaL phoTographer merLiN daLemaN

18:00Hotel du Vin sarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)

18:30 Arts Café, West Bromwich New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

19:00 Ask, Sutton Coldfield The whiskey BroThers

19:30 Cradley Heath Library roy forBes

19:30 Lord Clifden saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

19:30 Bournville Gardens dave geLLy wiTh BriaN dee Trio£7

20:45 The Perry Hill Tavern oLd Comrades JaZZ BaNd

SkETCHING THE FESTIVALThe Birmingham Jazz Festival has long had a photographer-at-large. Now this year festival patrons can look out for sketchers-at-large. The 52nd Worldwide Sketch Crawl begins at the BBC in the Mailbox at 12 o'clock on the second Saturday. Bring your sketch pads with you and join Birmingham Urban Sketchers on a journey which reaches the halfway point of the Everyman Cinema at 1.30 and finishes at the Caffe Nero in Brindleyplace at 4.00. The Urban Sketchers form an active group of artists who have previously sketched in many areas of the city, notably the Barber Institute, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Sarehole Mill, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, St. Philip’s Cathedral and any number of churches.www.sketchbrum.com


www.birminghamjazzfestival.com WEdNESdAY 20TH JULY 2016

12:00 Colmore Square New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

12:00 St. Pauls Square sarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)

12:30 Moseley All Services Club BirmiNgham Big BaNd£5

12:30 The Mailbox saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

12:30 The Brasshouse JuLiaN marC sTriNgLe wiTh BriaN dee Trio[Sponsored by Marstons]

12:30 Strada ICC dave geLLy

14:00 Sutton Coldfield Library Lee JoNes aNd kim Cypher

16:00 Hampton by Hilton New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

16:00 WaterstonesmeeT The auThor - dave geLLy[An Unholy Row: Jazz in Britain and Its Audience, 1945 to 1960]

18:00 Brindleyplace Central Square The iNeviTaBLes (usa)

18:00 Core Theatre, Solihull The whiskey BroThers

19:00 Fiesta Del Asado sarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)

19:00 The Blue Piano NeiL C youNg Trio feaT. sTeve TromaNs

19:00 Tipton Library JuLiaN marC sTriNgLe wiTh BriaN dee Trio

19:00 Brindleyplace Central Square CaLeB ChapmaN’s CresCeNT super BaNd (usa)

19:30 Lord Clifden New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

19:30 Core Theatre, Solihull kiNg pLeasure & The BisCuiT Boys£16

20:00 Brindleyplace Central Square fiLm: JaZZ oN a summer's day

20:00 Robin 2 waLTer TrouT BaNd£20 adv

20:00 Suds & Duds saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

Performances are free unless denoted otherwise. In restaurant performances accepted etiquette applies in terms of purchasing a meal.

Julian MarcStringle


King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys


www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSdAY 21ST JULY 2016

12:00 Snowhill Square New orLeaNs Jump BaNd (spaiN)

12:00 St. Pauls Squareremi harris Trio

12:30 The Mailbox hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

12:30 The Brasshousesarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)[Sponsored by Marstons]

13:00 BBC Birmingham Mailbox saXiTude [LuXemBourg] perform NiNo sopraNiNo for 4 to 11 year oldsFollow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter to experience this performance in 360° video

14:00 Core Theatre Studio, Solihull The iNeviTaBLes (usa)

17:30 Strada ICCsuZi woods

18:00 Balcony Brasserie, Selfridges roy forBes Trio

18:00 Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace skeTCh TaLk: meeT The urBaN skeTChers

19:00 Borracho De OrosheiLa waTerfieLd

19:00 Nosh & Quaff saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

19:00 Panache, Sutton Coldfield BLue siLk

19:30 Midlands Arts CentreThe QuieT meN

19:30 Great Barr Library emma JoNsoN & sam rogers

19:30 Lord Clifden remi harris Trio

20:00 Drop Forge hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

20:00 The Junction Lee JoNes QuarTeT feaT. aNdy shiLLiNgford

20:00 O'Neills CaLeB ChapmaN’s CresCeNT super BaNd (usa)

20:00 Pushkarsarah LeNka BaNd (fraNCe)

21:00 All Bar One The BroomBusTers

MAILBOX AT LUNCH-TIMEThe newly refurbished Mailbox will once again host daily concerts at lunch-time on the terrace overlooking the canal - once again the line-up is excitingly international. Such British stars as Simon Spillett are joined by musicians and bands from the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Canada.

In the case of outdoor performances alternative indoor venues will be arranged. For up to date information join our email bulletin list. Simply get in touch at [email protected]

Sarah Lenka Band


www.birminghamjazzfestival.com FRIdAY 22Nd JULY 2016

12:00 Cathedral Grounds saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

12:00 St. Pauls Square aLaN BarNes QuarTeT

12:30 The Mailbox The sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)

13:10 Barber InstitutehoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

17:00 The Brasshouse aLaN BarNes QuarTeT

17:00 Shakespeare, Lower Temple Street saXiTude (LuXemBourg)

18:00 Suds & Duds roy forBes Trio

18:30 White Swan The greaT BirmiNgham TromBoNe CompaNy

18:30 Walkabout Solihull BLue siLk

19:00 BacchusTerry CLarke BaNd

19:00 Eleon Sutton Coldfield TipiTiNa

19:00 Park Regis hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

19:00 West Bromwich Library Joe fourNier (CaNada)

19:00 The Blue Piano peTe hyde & The vieLLards

19:30 Le Monde The QuieT meN

19:30 Botanical Gardens BirmiNgham LiNdy eXChaNge:The sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)£20

20:00 Shakespeare, Summer Row david moore BaNd

MUSICIANS UNION‘An organisation that can help its members throughout their professional careers and beyond.’

As always the Festival is extremely grateful for the support, financial and otherwise, of the Musicians Union. www.musiciansunion.org.uk


10:30 St. Pauls Square The whiskey BroThers

12:00 BBC Birmingham Mailbox sTarT of urBaN skeTCh CrawL

12:00 BBC Birmingham Mailbox ukuLeLe roCksFollow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter to experience this performance in 360° video

12:30 Hampton by Hilton BirmiNgham LiNdy eXChaNge:TaLkiNg LiNdy hop

12:30 The Mailbox Joe fourNier (CaNada)

13:00 Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich rudie & The revoLvers

13:00 St. Pauls SquareJerry seNfLuk QuarTeT (CZeCh repuBLiC)

14:00 Bandstand, Brindleyplace The sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)

15:00 The Brasshouse hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

15:00 Park RegisTipiTiNa

16:00 St. Pauls Square grey goose BLues BaNd

16:00 Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace sTriCTLy JiTTerBug: daNCe sessioN aNd LessoNs

17:00 Royal Angus sauCe CiTy JaZZ

18:00 Quinto, Sutton Coldfield Jerry seNfLuk Trio(CZeCh repuBLiC)

19:00 Blackheath Library sTeve aJao QuarTeT

19:00 Ebb and Flow Joe fourNier (CaNada)

19:00 The Blue Piano spiriT of TaNgo

19:30 Le Monde hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

19:30 Aston University Guild Hall BirmiNgham LiNdy eXChaNge:The Jim wyNN swiNg orChesTra£20

20:00 Wellington Lee JoNes Trio

20:30 Drop ForgeTipiTiNa

20:30 Fiddle & Bone The sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURdAY 23Rd JULY 2016

Art ThemenPhoto byMerlin Daleman

Come and see tomorrow’s BBC…today!Visit us for free: Sat & Mon-Wed 10-5; Sun 11-5We’re at BBC Birmingham, Level 3, Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1RF.Follow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter.

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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNdAY 24TH JULY 2016

11:00 St. Pauls Square emma JoNsoN QuarTeT

12:00 Park RegisThe sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)

12:30 The Mailbox Jerry seNfLuk QuarTeT (CZeCh repuBLiC)

13:00 The DogJoe fourNier (CaNada)

13:30 St. Pauls SquarefLoreNCe JoeLLe (fraNCe)

14:00 Bandstand, Brindleyplace The BroomBusTers

14:00 Haden Hill Park The greaT BirmiNgham TromBoNe CompaNy

14:00 Hotel Du Vin hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

14:00 Botanical Gardens eureka JaZZ BaNd£7 & £4.75 conc

14:30 Brunswick Park, Wednesbury miLLeNNium eagLe JaZZ BaNd

14:30 Sam’s Jazz On the Water Brooks wiLLiams (usa)

15:00 The Brasshouse david moore BaNd[Sponsored by Timothy Taylor Landlord]

16:00 The Stable C-Jam

16:00 New Inn, Harborne grey goose BLues BaNd

17:00 O'Neillsemma JoNsoN QuarTeT

17:00The Dark Horse BirmiNgham LiNdy eXChaNge:marTyN NeLsoN & his rhyThm remedies£10

17:30 Slug & Lettuce, Brindleyplace hoTsy ToTsy five (CZeCh repuBLiC)

18:00 Café Rouge, The Mailbox fLoreNCe JoeLLe (fraNCe)

18:30 Soloman Cutler The sChwiNgs wiTh Laura BudreCkyTe (LiThuaNia)

19:00 Botanical Gardens raJasThaN heriTage Brass BaNd£15

19:30 Lord Clifden Jerry seNfLuk QuarTeT (CZeCh repuBLiC)

20:00 Prince of Wales Brooks wiLLiams (usa)

SUTTON COLDFIELD WELCOMES

32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

JULY 15TH TO 24TH 2016

DATE ARTIST TIME

Friday 15th July Pizza Express: ROBERT FOWLER QUARTET 14:00

Saturday 16th July The Parade, Bert & Gerts: CHASE JAZZMEN 12:00

Monday 18th July Brewhouse & Kitchen: DAVE GELLY TRIO 19:00

Tuesday 19th July Ask: THE WHISKEY BROTHERS 19:00

Wednesday 20th July Sutton Coldfield Library: LEE JONES & KIM CYPHER 14:00

Thursday 21st July Panache: BLUE SILK 19:00

Friday 22nd July Eleon: TIPITINA 19:00

Saturday 23rd July Quinto: JERRY SENFLUK QUARTET 18:00

21:00 Hampton by Hilton

The fiNaL fLiNg!hoTsy ToTsy five(CZeCh repuBLiC)


The Broombusters


Bobby Woods

VENUES www.birminghamjazzfestival.com VENUES


ALL BAR ONE Waters Edge, Brindleyplace B1 2HL 0121 644 5861

ARcADIAN Hurst St Southside, B5 4TD 0121 622 5348

ASk, SUTTON cOLDFIELD 1-3 Manor Rd, Sutton Coldfield B73 6EJ 0121 354 8834

BAccHUS Burlington Arcade, New Street, B2 4JH 0121 632 5445

BALcONy BRASSERIE, SELFRIDGESThe Bullring, Upper Mall East, B5 4BP 0121 600 6869

BARBER INSTITUTE OF FINE ARTS University of Birmingham, B15 2TS 0121 414 7333

BBc BIRMINGHAM 102-108 Wharfside St, B1 1RE 0121 567 6000

BERT & GERTS MARkET Sutton Coldfield Parade 07917 765238

BLAckHEATH LIBRARy 145 High St, Rowley Regis B65 0EA 0121 559 1884

BLUE PIANO 24-26 Harborne Rd, B15 3AA 0121 454 6877

BORRAcHO DE ORO Harborne Court, Edgbaston, B15 3BU 0121 454 5368

BOTANIcAL GARDENS Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3TR 0121 454 1860

BOURNVILLE GARDENS 49 Bristol Road South, B31 2FR 0121 227 9000

BOURNVILLE VILLAGE GREEN Bournville, B30 2AA 0121 374 2139

BRASSHOUSE 44 Broad Street, B1 2HP 0121 633 3383

BREwHOUSE & kITcHEN8 Birmingham Rd, Sutton Coldfield B72 1QD 0121 796 6838

BROADwAy cASINO Broadway Plaza,220 Ladywood Middleway B16 8LP0121 456 5557

BRUNSwIck PARk, wEDNESBURy Brunswick Park Rd, Wednesbury WS10 9HH 0121 569 3440

cAFé ROUGE 174-176 Wharfside St, Mailbox, B1 1RN 0121 665 6437

cAFFE NERO, BRINDLEyPLAcE 4 Brindley Place B1 2JB 0121 643 4572

cATHEDRAL GROUNDS Colmore Row B3 2QB 0121 236 4689

cENTRAL LIBRARy, wEST BROMwIcH High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ 0121 569 4904

cENTRAL SqUARE, BRINDLEyPLAcE 2 Brunswick St, Brindleyplace, B1 2JF 07939 507 526

cHURcH ST SqUARE Church Street, B3 2NP0121 236 4689

cOLMORE SqUARE Colmore Circus Queensway, B4 6BN0121 236 4689

cORE THEATRE Library Square, Homer Road, Solihull,B91 3RG 0121 704 6962

cRADLEy HEATH LIBRARy Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5JU 01384 569316

DARk HORSE 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 0121 449 6300

DARTMOUTH PARk Reform St, West Bromwich B71 4AH0121 569 3070

THE DOG, wARLEy Hagley Rd W, Warley B67 5EU 0121 429 2305

DROP FORGE6-10 Hockley Street, The Jewellery Quarter B18 6BL 0121 448 4578

EBB AND FLOw Herbert Rd, Solihull B91 3QE 0121 709 0946

EDwARDIAN TEA ROOMS BMAG Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH 0121 348 8090

ELEON 2 Maney Corner, Sutton ColdfieldB72 1QL 0121 354 6805

FIDDLE & BONE 4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AE 0121 200 2223

FIESTA DEL ASADO 229 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, B16 9RP 0121 455 9331

GREAT BARR LIBRARy Birmingham Rd, B43 6NW 0121 357 1340

GUILD HALL, ASTON Aston University, Woodcock Street, B4 7ES0121 204 4855

HADEN HILL PARk Halesowen Rd, Cradley Heath B64 7JU 01384 569 444

HAGLEy ROAD VILLAGE 322-336 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, B17 8BH 0121 420 6000

HAMPTON By HILTON200 Broad Street, B15 1SU0121 329 7450

HOTEL DU VIN 25 Church Street B3 2NR 0121 200 0600

IBIS BIRMINGHAM cENTRE 21 Ladywell Walk B5 4ST 0121 622 6010

JUNcTION, HARBORNE 212 High St, Harborne, B17 9PT 0121 428 2635

LE MONDE Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, B1 2HL 0121 271 0600

LORD cLIFDEN 34 Great Hampton Street, Hockley, B18 6AA 0121 523 7515

MAc Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH 0121 446 3232

MAILBOx 7 Commercial Street, B1 1RS 0121 632 1000

MARRIOTT HOTEL 12 Hagley Rd, Five Ways, B16 8SJ 0121 452 1144

MELL SqUAREDrury Ln, Solihull B91 3BG 0121 704 3941

MOSELEy ALL SERVIcES cLUB 91 Church Road, Moseley, B13 9EA 0121 449 1573

NEw INN 74 Vivian Rd, Harborne B17 0DJ 0121 426 3373

NEw STREET STATION Smallbrook Queensway B2 4ND 0121 454 7020

NOSH & qUAFF 130 Colmore Row, Victoria Square, B3 3AP 0121 236 4246

O’NEILLS Broad St, City Centre, B1 2HG 0121 616 1623

OAk HOUSEOak Road, West Bromwich B70 8HJ 0120 553 0759

OLDBURy LIBRARy 10 Halesowen Street, Oldbury, B69 2AJ 0121 552 5933

PANAcHE 1 Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1QL 0121 355 3353

PARk REGIS 160 Broad St, B15 1DT 0121 369 5555

PERRy HILL TAVERN 23 Perry Hill Rd, Oldbury B68 0AR 0121 422 6600

PIZZA ExPRESS, SUTTON cOLDFIELD 5-7 Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1QA 0121 354 9261

POPLAR wALk, TOUcHwOOD Touchwood, Solihull B91 3GJ 0121 709 6900

PRINcE OF wALES 84 Cambridge St, B1 2NP 0121 643 9460

PUSHkAR 245 Broad St, B1 2HQ0121 643 7978

qUINTO 23 Birmingham Rd, Sutton Coldfield B72 1QA 0121 354 6486

ROBIN 2 20-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston WV14 7LJ 01902 497860

ROyAL ANGUS HOTEL St Chads Queensway B4 6HY 0121 606 4500

SAM’S JAZZ ON THE wATER Birmingham Canal Boat Services, Gas St Basin B1 2JT 07760 492965

SANDwELL ARTS cAFE Central 6th, New Street, West Bromwich B70 7PG 0121 569 8236

SANDwELL PARk FARM Salter's Ln, West Bromwich B71 4BG 0121 569 30 70

SHAkESPEARE Summer Row, B3 1JJ 0121 236 8702

SHAkESPEARE Lower Temple Street, B2 4JD 0121 616 2196

SLUG & LETTUcE, BRINDLEyPLAcE Waters Edge, Brindleyplace B1 2HL 0121 633 3049

SNOw HILL STATION SqUARE Colmore Row, B3 2BJ0121 236 4689

SOLOMAN cUTLER Regency Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS 0121 631 8930

THE SqUARE 2 The Priory Queensway, B4 7LJ 0121 236 5303

ST PAULS SqUARE St Paul's Square, Jewellery Quarter, B3 2BJ0121 233 2814

STABLE115 John Bright St, B1 1BE 0121 643 8918

STRADA, Icc International Convention Centre B1 2EA 0121 212 2661

SUDS N DUDS 14 Gas St, B1 2JT 07741 242875

SUTTON cOLDFIELD LIBRARy Lower Parade, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1XX 0121 464 0165

THEATRE SqUARE, TOUcHwOOD Touchwood, Solihull B91 3GJ 0121 709 6900

THIMBLEMILL LIBRARy Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ 0121 429 2039

TIPTON LIBRARy 17 Unity Walk Tipton DY4 8QL 0121 557 1796

wALkABOUT, SOLIHULL 16-24 Poplar Rd, Solihull B91 3AB 0121 227 5721

wATERSTONES, BIRMINGHAM 24-26 High Street B4 7SL 0121 633 4353

wATERS EDGE BANDSTAND, BRINDLEyPLAcE Waters Edge, Brindleyplace B1 2HL 07939 507 526

wEDNESBURy LIBRARy Walsall St, Wednesbury WS10 9EH 0121 556 0351

wELLINGTON 37 Bennetts Hill, B2 5SN0121 200 3115

wHITE SwAN, HARBORNE Harborne Road, B15 3TT 0121 454 2359

Performances are free unless denoted otherwise. In restaurant performances accepted etiquette applies in terms of purchasing a meal.

NATIONAL EXPRESS FESTIVAL GUIdEThose extremely helpful people at National Express West Midlands have produced a guide to enable folk to get around the Festival by bus. It’s free and available from all Festival venues.

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ARTISTS A-Z

30 31

COOL VENUE : HOT ATTRACTIONSLive Concerts in the idyllic setting of Birmingham’s

BOTANICAL GARDENS

For further information call Festival Hotline 0121 454 7020 or email [email protected]

Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston B15 3TRTickets available from www.ticketsellers.co.uk and from 0121 454 1860

BUDAPEST RAGTIME BAND

THE RAJASTHAN HERITAGE BRASS BAND

Sunday 17th July7pmTickets £12Ragtime, Jazz and Dixieland evergreens, musical parodies and humorous adaptations of world famous tunes and operas

Sunday 24th July7pmTickets £15A heady, exciting and hypnotic reflection of the evocative and joyous music of Rajasthan - dancing is inevitable!


ALAN BARNES qUARTETNo Birmingham jazz festival would be complete without the outstanding saxophonist/clarinettist Alan Barnes whose career since leaving Humphrey Lyttelton’s Band in 1992 has seen him playing with many top American jazzmen, collecting British awards galore in at least five categories, running his own Woodville record label and pursuing an active and successful career as composer and arranger. Birmingham audiences will remember such extended works as Swinging down Broad Street and Marbella Jazz Suite. In the best tradition of Barnes literary suites, the end of 2015 saw him touring and recording his jazz version of A Christmas Carol.

ANDy BENNETTSinger/guitarist Andy Bennett is best known for his work with the group Ocean Colour

Scene. He first broke through on the Birmingham scene with his band The Elements before joining Ocean Colour Scene in 2004. Last year he left the band to focus on his own solo material.

ART THEMENThe wonderfully original saxophonist Art Themen managed throughout a long and successful career as an orthopaedic surgeon to build a major reputation on the British jazz and blues scene, initially picking up national awards with the Cambridge University Jazz Band, then playing and touring with the likes of Alexis Korner, Mick Jagger and Jack Bruce before lending his Sonny Rollins-influenced tenor sax into many top jazz groups. Since retirement from medicine, Art has gone from strength to strength, with the British Jazz Award for tenor sax coming his way in 2008.

BAckyARD MUSIc BOySThis four piece acoustic band captures the excitement and verve of 1920s/1930s hot jazz. Lining up with clarinet, trumpet, sousaphone and banjo, led by Matt Palmer, they are equally comfortable strolling or static onstage.

BILL cOLEMANBill Coleman’s accomplished double bass has been a notable feature of many an accompanying trio at the Birmingham festival for many years. His versatility and musicianship keep him much in demand, with his most high-profile work recently being many years with Kenny Ball’s band.

BIRMINGHAM LINDy ExcHANGEBirmingham Lindy Exchange offers a unique opportunity to enjoy dance workshops with some great live music in a number of fantastic settings scattered across Birmingham, from the Botanical Gardens to the Birmingham Swing Ball at Aston University. The schedule combines large-scale evening parties with smaller, more intimate daytime dance opportunities and the chance to talk Lindy Hop under the direction

To keep up to date on news and changes to the programme, join our email bulletin list. Simply get in touch at [email protected]

TAMA dRUMS/ZILdJIAN CYMBALSMany thanks to Tama Drums and Zildjian Cymbals for supplying drum kits for the festival - outstanding equipment for some outstanding music-making

AlanBarnes

Photo by Merlin

Daleman



of Martyn Nelson at the Hampton-by-Hilton.

BLUE SILkA new project for Judy Blue, star singer with Masai Blues, teams her with exciting young guitarist Ian Silk.

BOBBy wOODS (U.S.A)Singer Bobby Woods was born in Chicago and grew up surrounded by the sounds of jazz, blues and gospel greats. Now based in Birmingham and a regular

favourite at the city’s Jazz and Blues Festival, Bobby has appeared with Osibisa, Eddie Grant and Third World and has toured widely in Europe and Africa.

BRIAN DEEIn addition to his great work in trio formats and as accompanist, Brian Dee starred in last year’s Lady Sings the Blues concert, now available on CD as Laughing at Life. Brian’s skills as an accompanist are

matched by his ability as an original and accomplished soloist. In a highly successful career he has worked with such legends of British jazz as Tubby Hayes and Ted Heath as well as being MD for Elaine Delmar for many years.

BROOkS wILLIAMS (U.S.A.)Ranked one of the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists, singer-songwriter Brooks Williams writes groove-laden songs and delivers them with an easy-going vocal style and monstrous guitar chops. Walking the line between blues and Americana, Williams has worked stages worldwide for over 25 years, amassing a staggering back-catalogue of songs, recordings and tales. With nearly 20 CDs to his name – and more on the way – this Statesboro, Georgia, native was named Best Male Vocalist by UK roots magazine Spiral Earth in 2013.

THE BROOMBUSTERSThe Broombusters’ unique fusion of blues and reggae draws on influences as wide-ranging as Bob Dylan, Elmore James, Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters. Leading the five-piece band is the charismatic Charlie ‘Wolfman’ Sylvester from the late 1970s disco soul band, the J.A.L.N. Band.

BRUcE ADAMSFirst choice for many an all-star band, trumpeter Bruce Adams has often been heard at many of the UK’s leading jazz festivals. Over the years, Bruce’s popularity has depended on his inspired and dynamic quartet and quintet gigs, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most exciting jazz trumpeters in the country. His remarkable technique and bravura playing have earned him numerous British Jazz Awards, either for Trumpet or (with Alan Barnes) for Small Group and New CD.

BUDAPEST RAGTIME BAND (HUNGARy)Long-time favourites at Birmingham and many other festivals throughout Europe, the Budapest Ragtime Band was established in 1980 by trained jazz and classical musicians who created their own style by adding original instrumentation

to the traditional piano interpretation of ragtime. Since then the band has enlarged its repertoire into everything from Dixieland to operatic parodies and has toured successfully throughout Europe and America, performing regularly on Hungarian, German, American and Swiss television.

THE BUSqUITOS (NETHERLANDS)The Busquitos’ brand of happy swinging music for all ages sees them in great demand for festivals in Austria, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands as well as the UK. The combination of brilliantly played music and dazzling funny entertainment will put a smile on anyone’s face.

cALEB cHAPMAN’S cREScENT SUPER BAND (U.S.A.)Organised in 2001 under the direction of Caleb Chapman, the award-winning Crescent Super Band, consisting of 25 musicians between the ages of 15 and 18, has been hailed as one of the best professional bands in the world to be composed entirely of young musicians. From its Utah base, the band has played festivals in

PARk REGISThe Festival is delighted to welcome Birmingham’s newest luxury hotel, the Park Regis at Five Ways. The first hotel in this high quality group to be opened in Europe, the Park Regis provides a splendid setting for the Festival launch with Pepper and the Jellies, plus further performances during the Festival.

www.parkregisbirmingham.co.uk

Budapest Ragtime Band

Brooks Williams

ARTISTS A-Z

Bruce Adams




Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy and France. In 2013 the Crescent Super Band played Carnegie Hall with guests David Sanborn and Wayne Bergeron.

cATFISH kINGSThe Catfish Kings have 50s music written through them like a stick of Brighton rock. Take some New Orleans rhythm ‘n’ blues in the manner of Little Richard and Fats Domino, mix in with Big Joe Turner’s boogie beat and blend in the best of Louis Jordan, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis!

cHASE JAZZMENThis highly popular and talented band, based in the West Midlands and Shropshire, is composed of leading musicians with a long-standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz, plus numbers from the swing era and the Sinatra songbook.

cHRIS BOwDEN AND REBEccA NASHSaxist Chris Bowden first came to notice with his 1996 album, Time Capsule, with a 12-piece band and 20 years later was blowing the roof off Ronnie Scott’s with his current trio. At the Blue Piano he teams up with Rebecca Nash, pianist and noted jazz educator. Rebecca has worked with an impressive list of British jazzers – including, among many others, Tina May, Mike Gibbs and Henry Lowther.

cITy OF BIRMINGHAM BIG BANDRecognised as probably the Midlands’ most entertaining big band, the CBBB offers the full Glenn Miller sound with five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets and four rhythm, plus vocalists. In addition to Miller, listen out for the music of Ellington, Basie, the Dorseys and the UK’s own Ted Heath.

c-JAMC-Jam’s repertoire is large and varied, ranging from cool jazz sounds to stomping blues/R&B and soul favourites. The experienced line-up includes three ex-members of the Steve Gibbons Band: Brian Badhams (keyboards and vocals), Bob Wilson (lead guitar/vocals) and drummer Brendan Day. Bassist Frank Walker’s colourful music career includes working with Glenn Tipton in the Flying Hat Band and appearing with Alvin Stardust, whilst saxist Sam Rogers first came to notice with the Walsall Jazz Orchestra.SANdWELL EVENTS

The spread of the festival takes in a whole series of fine performances in interesting venues throughout Sandwell. In addition to no fewer than nine libraries, concerts in Sandwell take place in two bandstands, one park farm, one arts café and two houses of historic importance!

CrossCountry are proud to be supporting the

BUdAPEST RAGTIME BANd

at Jazz in the Gardens 2016

Caleb Chapman’s Crescent Super Band



DAVE GELLy Smitten by jazz at an early age, Gelly took up the clarinet at 14 and the saxophone a few years later. He played in, and eventually led, the award-winning Cambridge University band, whose personnel included, among others, Art Themen and Lionel Grigson. Alongside his reputation as a fine jazz tenor saxist, Dave has built a reputation as an award-winning jazz writer, both as a journalist (currently with The Observer) and as the author of several well-received books, including biographies of tenor sax greats Stan Getz and Lester Young and An Unholy Row, dealing with post-war British jazz and its audience.

DAVE MOORwOOD’S RAScALS OF RHyTHMSince leaving the Pete Allen Band in 2004, banjoist/guitarist Dave Moorwood has concentrated on his

own bands, the Big Bear Stompers and the Rascals of Rhythm. The five-piece Rascals boast a unique sound, with a front line of two multi-instrumentalist reedmen, Mike Wills and Tony Blincowe. The band’s repertoire draws on great tunes from Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and the Great American Songbook.

DAVE NEwTONSince emerging from the Leeds College of Music at the same time as his frequent collaborator Alan Barnes, Dave Newton has built a huge reputation as one of the most individual, versatile and technically assured of British jazz pianists. The recipient of many British jazz awards and with a large and varied list of CD recordings to his credit, he is as much at home in a duo situation as composing and arranging for a medium-sized group and will be heard

at the festival in the trio format with various soloists.

DAVE TANDyAn alumnus of the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, where he had the chance to work with the likes of Jacqui Dankworth, Mark Nightingale, Bobby Shew and Wayne Bergeron, Dave played with such bands as the Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra and King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys before becoming the regular drummer with the Syd Lawrence Band in 2012.

DAVID MOOREDavid’s passion is blues guitar, though his working life in New York has brought him

HORTONSHortons is an independent Midlands based property company owned by the Horton family. It was founded by Isaac Horton and first incorporated in 1892. The portfolio contains a number of landmark buildings, including The Grand, Colmore Row.

The company has a long standing commitment to supporting the community in which it operates. It is a supporter of a number of arts bodies, and this year will be supporting the Festival’s Photography Project.

WATERSTONES - PHOTO EXHIBITION ANd MOREWaterstones are hosting an exhibition of photography from the 2015 Jazz & Blues Festival from July 8th to 31st, sponsored by Hortons’ and curated by BCU students Casey Li, Felicity Hall, Norah Al-Hindi and Francisca Borzea under the guidance of Phil Thomson. Waterstones will also present a performance by The Humors, a jazz quiz in conjunction with the Jazz Rag magazine featuring Digby Fairweather and Ron Simpson, a Meet the Photographer session with Merlin Daleman and author Dave Gelly talking about his book An Unholy Row: Jazz in Britain and Its Audience, 1945-1960.



experience in a wide variety of styles. Initially inspired by such Birmingham musicians as the late Roger Hill, David graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1999. He moved to New York in 2010, but is now enjoying being back in Birmingham for a spell, demonstrating a fresh and exciting approach to the blues.

DIGBy FAIRwEATHERSince l995 top British jazz trumpeter Digby Fairweather has led his award-winning Half-Dozen and last year celebrated the band’s 20th anniversary with a major

tour and a CD highlighting The Best of the Half Dozen. The Half Dozen toured and recorded with legendary singer George Melly (2003-7) and has since frequently performed with Paul Jones. Digby founded the Association of British Jazz Musicians (l987) and National Jazz Archive (l987) and broadcast widely on jazz for the BBC and Jazz FM (l986-1998) before returning to fulltime playing in l998. In 2013 he received the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Lifetime Achievement Award for jazz. Currently he can be heard on the new Big Bear CD,

Laughing at Life, recorded at last year’s Lady Sings the Blues concert at the Birmingham festival.

DUELLING PIANOSDuelling Pianos presents the pianistic talents, back to back, of Dino Baptiste and Joe Stafford, backed by drummer Jayme Tovey, in an exciting duelling boogie woogie and rock’n’roll band, with excursions into reggae and ska, funk and pop classics.

EMMA JONSONLeeds College of Music graduate Emma Jonson formed her own blues band on leaving college. Her versatility as pianist and singer is shown by a repertoire that features originals, her own take on boogie woogie and classic and contemporary covers.

EUREkA JAZZ Eureka Jazz, from Moseley, plays happy and harmonious 1920s and 30s melodies based on the Great American Songbook. Terry McGrath on trombone and saxes leads the band in sweet vintage music, from such as Cole Porter, Gershwin and Hoagy Carmichael.

FLORENcE JOELLE (FRANcE)Bred on jazz at home and the street music of Paris, the Gypsy art of Django Reinhardt, bal musette, and

Florence Joelle


40 41

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com


North African rai, singer, songwriter, blues harmonica player Florence Joelle started collecting rock’n’roll, doo-wop, Latin jazz, and early blues as a girl. Her music draws from all these influences, carving out a unique sound that, although deeply rooted in the past, vibrates in the present.

GARRy ALLcOckGarry Allcock, who will lend his talents to various accompanying trios at the festival, has had an impressively varied career as one of the Midlands’ top drummers, from being a teenager enthused by Buddy

Rich, Gene Krupa and Louie Bellson to working with the likes of Kenny Baker, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes and such visiting Americans as Mel Torme, Maynard Ferguson and Herb Geller to founding his own 16-piece big band in 1974.

GREAT BIRMINGHAM TROMBONE cOMPANyThe group is modelled after Bobby Knight’s Great American Trombone Company, a pioneering ensemble of five trombones and rhythm section playing hard-swinging jazz charts and sounding like a miniature big band.

GREy GOOSE BLUES BAND Formed in 2008 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Frankie Williams, the Grey Goose has developed a reputation in the Midlands as one of the freshest and most original blues bands around. Having cut their teeth on the Black Country pub circuit, the band played many major blues festivals since 2010: Nantwich, Upton-upon-Severn, Tewkesbury, Swanage, Shetland, Aber Jazz and Blues and, of course, Birmingham Jazz and Blues.

HOTSy TOTSy FIVE (cZEcH REPUBLIc)The Hotsy Totsy Five, led by pianist/singer Iva Blazkova, has developed from the Teens Jazzband Velke Losiny which has delighted fans for many years at the Birmingham Jazz Festival. A young band focussing on authentic interpretations of 1920s and 1930s jazz, the Hotsy Totsy Five has performed at many jazz festivals and radio and television broadcasts.

Hotsy Totsy Five

VOLUNTEERS WANTEdThe Festival depends on the volunteer army whose efforts enable the event to function properly. Volunteers are already at work in the Festival office and around the area, but it’s certainly not too late to come on board!

We are looking for drivers, technical staff, IT, distribution, marketing, PR and administration. Call Sarah on 0121 454 7020 or email [email protected]

ARTISTS A-Z


THE HUMORSCorry Fleming and Nicola Cockburn comprise The Humors, an Americana duo who hail from Edinburgh. The duo played Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, as The Precious Penny Pluckers, two years ago. Since then, they have earned a prestigious Danny Kyle nomination at this year's Celtic Connection festival in Glasgow and also appeared as the guest band on a live episode of STV Glasgow's Riverside Show.

THE INEVITABLES (U.S.A.)One of two bands in the festival consisting of young musicians from Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse in Utah, the Inevitables specialise in world music, an eclectic mix of swing, gypsy jazz, klezmer, zydeco, Delta blues and pop. Formed in 2013, the 15-piece band is in high demand for events in the West and last year won their first Downbeat award.

JERRy SENFLUk(cZEcH REPUBLIc)Born in Prague on St. Patrick's Day, 1946, Jerry Senfluk received private tuition from the principal clarinettist of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, a virtuoso performer and great admirer of Benny Goodman. He graduated from the Conservatoire of Prague in 1967, having made his first public appearance on clarinet in 1962, playing alongside Acker Bilk. A distinctive and technically accomplished player in the great tradition, Jerry remains popular and highly regarded throughout Europe.

JIM wyNN SwING BANDThis 16-piece re-creates the authentic original sound of 1930s and 1940s swing music, bringing to new life the charts of such greats as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie.

REVERENd RICHARd BASHFORdWe were saddened to learn of the death of the former long-serving Festival Board member and City Councillor, the Reverend Richard Bashford.

In 1994 Richard, who was Vicar of Winson Green, won a bye-election to become the first Labour Councillor for Quinton.

Richard was a lifelong jazz fan, extremely knowledgeable about the music, and a committed supporter of the Festival. He was to be seen almost every day of the Festival, sitting in the front row, having arrived early, as was his wont.

Richard Bashford died on May 10th, having been in poor health for some time.

The Humors



JOE FOURNIER (cANADA)Joe Fournier simply plays American roots music – country, soul, folk, rockabilly and blues – with stories that will make you laugh, cry and cringe, sometimes in the same verse. Joe has paid his dues in every kind of musical setting, even appearing as Ringo in a Beatles tribute band. With his ‘lyrics as sharp as a broke beer bottle’ and his driving rhythm and slide guitar, Joe has steadily built an international following. This year’s Birmingham appearance, for instance, is closely followed by dates in the UK, Sweden, the States and Canada.

JOHN HEMMING AND THE JAZZ LOBByISTS wITH LORRAINE DONOVANJohn Hemming may be better known for his political career, but the former

MP is, as regulars at the Birmingham festival know, also a talented jazz pianist. After several appearances with his Ladies of Jazz, John brought a new band to the 2015 festival and this year the Jazz Lobbyists make a welcome return.

JOHN PATRIck John Patrick’s piano playing has graced the performances of many American stars both in the USA and the UK since the 1960s. For many years John fronted his own Big Band, but he is at his best in a small group playing hard-swinging modern jazz.

JULIAN MARc STRINGLE qUARTETJulian Marc Stringle was a child prodigy, making his television debut at 14 with his teenage Dixieland band Young Jazz. His range has

always been enormous, in the early years Dixieland co-existing with studying composition with William Lloyd Webber at the London College of Music and touring Europe with a modern jazz quartet at the age of 17. Julian’s clarinet and tenor sax have been a dynamic part of Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen for all its 21 years and last year Julian made a major impact at the Birmingham festival in the band for the Lady Sings the Blues concert.

kEITH BILLTaking the piano chair in many of the festival’s backing trios, as he has done with great success for many years, will be Keith Bill, the Midlands’ go-to man when it comes to finding the ideal accompanist for visiting soloists.

LAUGHING AT LIFE

LADY SINGS THE BLUESTHE MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY

PERFORMED BY

LIVE ATBIrmINGHAm JAzz & BLUES FESTIvAL

vALWISEmAN

DIGBYFAIrWEATHEr

roYWILLIAmS

JULIANSTrINGLE

BrIANDEE

LENSkEAT

ErIcForD

NEW rELEASE oN BIG BEAr rEcorDSRecorded live at last year’s Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival

“An evening with six of Europe’s finest jazz musicians and a remarkable singer” – Dave Gelly

CD available at all record retailers, Amazon, and all major download sites

Distributed by RSK Entertainment

For further information contact [email protected] phone 0121 454 7020or write to PO Box 944, Birmingham B16 8UT

John Hemming and the Jazz Lobbyists with Lorraine Donovan


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kING PLEASURE & THE BIScUIT BOyS‘To those who say that Swing is a musical form best left to Americans, prepare to be proven wrong. This British combo is bulletproof!’ - Atomic Magazine, New York CityThe all-time festival favourites at Birmingham, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys make it a regular stopping point on the international round of jazz and blues festivals. The band’s driving force since its inception way back when, King Pleasure is one of the great jazz and swing performers. His ebullient, joyful singing has long been the band’s great trademark, his fine tenor and baritone playing an integral part of that roaring King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys ensemble sound that is guaranteed to swing anyone into bad health.

LEE JONESGuitarist/composer Lee Jones studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Phil Robson. He has now released three solo albums and worked with many of the top names in jazz, guesting with Martin Taylor at the Pizza Express and recording with Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Dennis Rollins and others. Lee will be joined by singer KIM CYPHER.

LEN SkEATBassist Len Skeat’s remarkable career stretches back some 50 years, with membership of the Ted Heath Orchestra and the Stephane Grappelli Trio among his earlier credits. For years he was much in demand for such visiting Americans as Peggy Lee and has racked up innumerable British Jazz Awards. As an original member of the

Lady Sings the Blues, he appeared in last year’s Birmingham concert which is now available on CD from Big Bear Records and has been a regular in the festival’s star backing trios for many years.

LES ZAUTO STOMPERS DE PARIS[FRANcE]Les Zauto Stompers are an accomplished and entertaining five-piece from Paris, the stars of festivals throughout Europe and a perennial favourite in Birmingham. Their repertoire takes you back to the honkytonks of New Orleans and the cabarets of Chicago and New York. Virtuoso cornetist Gilles Naudet brings to life the classics of Louis Armstrong and the Stompers also favour the music of Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, Joe ‘King’ Oliver, Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and many other greats of jazz.

LITTLE JO & THE MISFITS Little Jo & the Misfits are a six piece band from Runcorn. They are quickly gaining a reputation for themselves as the band to have at festivals and venues, as they bring a fresh sound and variety of material rarely heard in the UK today. Formed in early 2012, Little Jo & the Misfits draw influence from a wide

Les Zauto Stompers de Paris




spectrum of artists such as Louis Jordan. Imelda May, Little Walter. T Bone Walker and Billie Holiday… it’s a long list.

MALcOLM GARRETTMalcolm Garrett’s drumming has long been one of the strengths of the festival’s accompanying trios. Widely respected by his fellow-drummers for his impeccable technique, he also has an international reputation as an outstanding drum tutor.

MASAI BLUESMasai Blues brings the music of the Deep South, with songs by the likes of Koko Taylor, Keb Mo’, Sister Rosetta Sharpe and Joe Williams. Singer Judy Blue is the real deal and with Masai Blues the blues is alive and well and enjoying a new surge of energy.

MATT PALMER’S MILLENNIUM EAGLE JAZZ BANDThe Midlands-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band emerged as a direct result of the demise in 2005 of the very popular Eagle Jazz Band, formed by Ken Ingram and Bob Smith in 1951. Matt Palmer had recently folded his Millennium Jazz Band to join the Eagles, so it was thought appropriate to include ‘Millennium’ in the name of the new band. The band’s wide repertoire includes popular songs and

classic jazz compositions of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

MIkE GREENA graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire, Mike Green is well known as the bassist with the trio of the outstanding guitarist Remi Harris. He will be heard during the festival in various accompanying groups.

MILES LEVINMiles Levin comes from a great family tradition of drummers, as the son of legendary ex-Tubby Hayes drummer Tony Levin. Miles frequently played at his father’s TL Club in Birmingham and has appeared with many different groups in the city, most recently From Scratch, with the music of Joe Harriott

NEIL BULLOckAs a drummer Neil has learned from the best. His first mentor was acclaimed tutor Malcolm Garrett and he has also studied with American legends Joe Morello and Jim Chapin. Early in his career Neil was

a member of the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, among other bands, and now he is recognised for his ability and versatility, playing soul, rhythm ‘n ‘ blues, jazz, fusion, Latin and pop with equal facility.

NEIL c. yOUNG TRIOGuitarist Neil C. Young aims to combine the funk of John Scofield with Jim Hall’s harmonic world and the cool of George Benson. A graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, he was lauded at Lancaster Jazz Festival as ‘a burgeoning international jazz star’.

Little Jo and the Misfits


We would like to thank

THE LITHUANIAN EMBASSY and

MUSIC EXPORT LITHUANIAfor enabling the Festival to present the top swing band

THE SCHWINGS with star singer LAURA BUDRECKYTE


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OPENING SEPTEMBER 2016

From airy daytime den to stylish night-time hotspot ‘The Lobby on Hill Street’ will be a

welcoming round-the-clock hangout!

Wishing The Festival A Successful 2016 &Looking forward to Offering Cocktails and

Jazz at the 2017 festival!


NEw ORLEANS JUMP BAND (SPAIN)Banjo player Mike Izatt’s buccaneering international band from the Costa del Sol has been a real festival favourite over the years, with their spirited, entertaining and idiosyncratic brand of New Orleans music.

NIck MILLwARDIn-demand drummer Nick Millward’s professional career began with Pete Allen’s Jazz Band after which he was a member of Terry Lightfoot’s band. In addition to leading his own trio, he has been a key member of both Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen and Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen. He will accompany a variety of front-liners at the festival.

NINO SOPRANINONino Sopranino is an hour-long performance by Luxembourg’s saxophone quartet, Saxitude, aimed to introduce 4-11 year olds to the full glories of the saxophone family, from the tiny sopranino sax to the mighty bass sax. It tells the story of a very small saxophone making his way in a world of much bigger instruments. Birmingham will see the first performances of Nino Sopranino in a newly commissioned English translation.

OLD cOMRADES JAZZ BANDThe forerunner of the Old Comrades was a band that trombonist Eric Dodgson started in 1995 called the Trent Valley Stompers. He and banjoist Stan Owen are the two remaining regular members still with the Old Comrades. The band was formed because seven enthusiasts were prepared to play for nothing, learn interesting lively numbers, in order to get away from playing hackneyed tunes.

PEPPER AND THE JELLIES (ITALy)One of the great successes of the last two Birmingham festivals, Pepper and the Jellies are a four-piece band formed in 2013, headed by singer Ilenia Appicciafuoco and completed by Marco Galiffa (guitar), Emiliani

Macrini (double bass) and Andrea Galiffa (snare and woodblocks). The band aims to re-create the atmosphere of the 1920s and 30s jazz era and to evoke the voices and songs of great jazz and blues singers ranging from Bessie Smith to Annette Hanshaw, from Ma Rainey to Ruth Etting. This year Pepper and the Jellies have played the Open Jazz Festival KotCertino in Belgium and July brings dates at Pozzuoli Jazz Festival and Jazz Tage as well as an eagerly awaited return to Birmingham.

PETE HyDE & THE VIELLARDSDescribing themselves as ‘a blues-Brummy bunch of musos’, Pete Hyde & the Viellards have a musical pedigree that stretches from Ronnie Scott’s to Glastonbury.

New Orleans Jump Band




PHOTOGRAPHy PROJEcTThe Photography Project, sponsored by Hortons’ Estate, is an opportunity for photographers of all levels of experience to work with an expert and evaluate their work. Monday’s Photographic Seminar and Masterclass at the Hampton-by-Hilton Hotel will feature festival photographer-at-large Merlin Daleman talking about the work of a photographer today, in terms of composition, technique and the pressures of the subjects, and briefing those attending on photographing the Festival.

It’s an opportunity to have your photographs assessed (and praised!) by an expert and the project will lead to a photographic exhibition in New Street Station which last year proved an outstanding success.

THE qUIET MENThe Quiet Men are three of the Midlands’ most accomplished and in demand session musicians and have been playing together as a group for some two years. Colin Browne (keyboards/vocals) has played with Ruby Turner, Barclay James Harvest and

Kate Bush; drummer Roy Adams also worked with Ruby Turner, plus such notables as Roy Wood and Chuck Berry; Dan Machin’s guitar style takes in jazz, blues and country with impeccable technique.

RAJASTHAN HERITAGE BRASS BAND (INDIA)Eight musicians from the villages round Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, form the core of this extravagantly costumed band, their music a heady, exciting and hypnotic reflection of this enchanting region. With a diverse repertoire spanning Rajasthani folk songs, Bollywood hits, spiritual qawwali and Bhangra beats, they cover the full spectrum of the evocative and joyous music of Rajasthan – and, we are told, dancing is inevitable!

REMI HARRIS TRIO28 year old guitar genius Remi Harris. Remi has played the guitar since he was six, formed his first rock band at 12, quit at 15 to learn to play jazz guitar properly. His trio plays gypsy jazz like no one else. The style is looser, swings differently to the traditional Reinhardt stylists and is clearly influenced by Remi’s fascination with Wes Montgomery. Remi’s debut album Ninick on Big Bear Records was widely 5 Star reviewed and has been

We would like to thank

MUSIC LX for supporting the return to Birmingham of the excellent

saxophone quartet SAXITUDE

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band



much praised by he likes of Jamie Cullum and Cerys Matthews.‘… a recorded debut which places Remi Harris securely in the front line of the world’s finest jazz guitarists.” - The Jazz Rag

RIcHARD HUGHESPianist Richard Hughes recently played with King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys at the prestigious Umbria Festival. Since turning professional, he has played with groups in many different styles,

including accompanying Tim Kliphuis and Jonny Boston at previous Birmingham festivals. He has recently recorded an EP of his own original compositions.

RIcky cOOL & THE IN cROwDRicky first hit the headlines with The Icebergs, only to re-form as The Realtos where he came to the attention of ex-Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant who recruited him into his Honeydrippers. Working with The Big Town Playboys began his long-term partnership with Andy Silvester of Savoy Brown and Chicken Shack. One of the hottest frontmen in the business, Ricky moved on to the unstoppable Hoola Boola Boys who toured with such greats as the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis.

ROBERT FOwLERPrimarily known as a tenor saxist in the great tradition of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, Robert Fowler is equally accomplished on clarinet and baritone sax. Following a long stint

with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, he featured in Humphrey Lyttelton’s last band and is often to be heard with fellow ex-Lytteltonian Karen Sharp and in all-star bands on record or at festivals.

ROy FORBESRoy Forbes is known to festival audiences as a dynamic and exciting singer who has built a great reputation in the West Midlands over some years as well as appearing and recording at London’s Jazz Cafe and the Stables, Wavendon, and taking in other festivals as distant as

Milan and St. Lucia, scoring a big success at the Limoges Jazz Festival (‘an exceptional concert’, according to Le Populaire du Centre). The Birmingham Mail wrote about Roy’s performance in the 2011 festival, ‘Is there a better male jazz singer in this country? Probably not. Roy Forbes is a master of his trade.’

RUDIE AND THE REVOLVERSVoted the No.1 Ska and Soul tribute band around the UK, Rudie and The Revolvers have been together for some five years, playing all around the country and headlining

at the Cavern in Liverpool in June, 2012, following a national tour supporting Bruce Foxton's From The Jam and Dexys Bootleg Runners. SARAH LENkA (FRANcE)Returning to Birmingham after her debut success at last year’s festival, Sarah Lenka is one of the most highly regarded singers on

PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Sponsored by HortonsMerlin Daleman has been the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival’s photographer-at-large for some years. Merlin lives in North Brabant in the Netherlands where his success as a photographer has led to his winning the Silver Camera Awards for Best Documentary Photographer on two occasions: 2006 and 2008. A graduate of the Royal Academy of the Arts in the Hague, he has worked on many international commissions as well as pursuing his interest in jazz photography. Merlin’s work can be seen in the Exhibition of Photography at Waterstones throughout July, he will hold a Photography Workshop at Hampton by Hilton on Monday 18th and a Meet The Photographer session at Waterstones on Tuesday 19th

A BRUSH WITH THE BLUESAs well as being King Pleasure of Biscuit Boys fame, Mark Skirving is an artist with a considerable international reputation. Since he started painting in 2003, his works have sold across Europe, in Asia and North and South America. In A Brush with the Blues he unites his two careers, with paintings of blues singers, including such greats as B.B. King who Mark once shared a stage with when King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys opened for him at Symphony Hall.

The Exhibition of Mark’s paintings of the Blues opens at The Blue Piano on July 14th with a Meet The Artist session set for Monday 18th.

BBC BIRMINGHAMBBC Birmingham will feature a series of events. After a gig by The Humors on the first Saturday, the BBC is home to Strictly Jitterbug, free dance lessons on Tuesday and the first performance in English of Nino Sopranino for 4 to 11 year olds by Luxembourg’s Saxitude on Thursday. On the final Saturday, the BBC will host free Ukulele lessons to all comers with Ukulele Rocks as well as seeing The Birmingham Urban Sketchers off on their Sketch Crawl.

ARTISTS A-Z

Remi Harris Photo by Merlin Daleman

Roy ForbesPhoto by Merlin Daleman



the Paris scene, touring with the likes of Taj Mahal and winning the SACEM award in the New Voice category in 2007. Her approach, suitably Gallic, is to sing of ‘extreme aspects of love seasoned with a sense of humour, but also mystery and sweetness.’ However, much of her material is less typically French, drawn from the likes of Bessie Smith and, especially, Billie Holiday.

SAUcE cITy JAZZMaking a second appearance at the festival, Sauce City Jazz is a traditional Dixieland jazz band that plays in and around Worcestershire and the Midlands. Formed in Claines, Worcestershire, in 1992, the six-piece band is now in its 25th year.

SAxITUDE (LUxEMBOURG)The band Saxitude is a saxophone quartet that was founded in 2003 and has come up with a unique

sound and equally distinctive mobile presentation style. Original compositions of jazz and improvised music are included in their repertory. Since 2003 the band has played concerts in Germany, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Thailand and China and returns to Birmingham as a decided festival favourite.

THE ScHwINGS wITH LAURA BUDREckyTE (LITHUANIA)The Schwings and Laura Budreckyete return to Birmingham as firm favourites with the festival public. The Schwings play swing, gypsy and Brazilian jazz with an authentic, original sound and its sincere communication with the audience. A pulsating rhythm, unusual instrument combinations, artistry, positive and lively performance - all these aspects define The Schwings.

Singer Laura Budreckyte comes from a cozy Birštonas resort in the jazz mecca of Lithuania, home to the oldest jazz festival in Lithuania. In 2014 Laura graduated from the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy with a master‘s degree in vocal jazz studies. Also she became 1st place winner and best free programme performer at

The Schwings with Laura Budreckyte

Saxitude Photo by Merlin Daleman

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the Jazz Voices competition in Klaip da (Lithuania, 2012), and won the Grand Prix at international Riga Jazz Stage competition (Latvia, 2013).

SHEILA wATERFIELDSheila Waterfield is an award winning vocalist who was born and grew up in Coventry and is one of seven sisters, many of whom are accomplished musicians and singers. The family were largely influenced by Sheila’s mother who grew up in a large traditional Irish family where music was part of everyday life. Her father was a naturally gifted and talented singer and sang the songs of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra effortlessly. These early influences of Irish, folk and jazz set the scene for Sheila’s musical journey which led to her first professional appearance as a jazz singer at the age of 18.

SIMON SPILLETT‘A formidable musician and composer playing and writing in an uncompromising hard bop style.’ – Jazz Review.Simon Spillett has established himself in recent years as one of the most distinctive and dynamic tenor saxophonists around. His mentor was the celebrated clarinettist and tenor saxist Vic Ash, but his playing recalls another star of 1950s bebop. His driving and energised style has often been compared with that of the late Tubby Hayes and his approach shares a similar love of dare-devil tempos and all-out intensity. Simon’s already considerable reputation as a jazz writer has been enhanced by the appearance of his biography of Tubby Hayes, The Long Shadow of the Little Giant (Equinox) and he was involved in the acclaimed film about Tubby, A Man in a Hurry.

SIMON THORPEOne of the country’s most in-demand bass players and a great addition to the festival’s roster of accompanying musicians, Simon has

featured with great success in bands from the popular to the experimental. As well as leading his own groups, he has played on CDs by the likes of Alan Barnes, Stacey Kent and Martin Speake.

SPIRIT OF TANGOThis jazz trio features three of Birmingham’s finest: Phil Bond on accordion, Dave Carroll on guitar and Mike Green on bass. In addition to South American dance rhythms, the group draws on 1940s swing and the Parisian valses musettes and Gypsy jazz.

WESTSIdE BIdThe sponsorship of the Westside BID is once again a key element in the Jazz and Blues Festival. So great is the BID’s involvement that it almost constitutes a festival in its own right with a total of no fewer than 60 events - enough to make up a full festival in many another city

Saturday 16th July SIMON SPILLETT TRIO 19:00Thursday 21st July SHEILA WATERFIELD 19:00

Authentic spanish food in a warm and relaxed environmentHarborne road, Edgbaston, B15 3BU [email protected] 0121 454 5368 63

Sheila Waterfield

Simon Spillet




STEVE AJAOSteve Ajao has been a much respected figure on the Birmingham music scene for over 30 years. Starting as a drummer, he was working as a blues guitarist in various bands by his late teens. Later he reinvented himself as a bebop saxophonist, appearing in many London clubs and memorably sharing the bandstand with ex-Charlie Parker trumpeter Red Rodney, while his Blues Giants keep alive the other side of his musical personality.

STRIcTLy JITTERBUGTuesday afternoon’s open-to-all dance session at the BBC in the Mailbox sees Strictly Jitterbug inviting newcomers and experienced dancers alike to join with them in sharing the joys of swing and jazz dance. Strictly Jitterbug has been teaching a mix of East Coast Swing and Charleston for 10 years, with two years as resident dance teachers at Birmingham’s Waterworks Jazz Club. Other places Strictly Jitterbug has taught

range from BBC Coventry to the Cardiac Rehabilitation unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

SUZI wOODSWell versed in the Great American Songbook and an established singer/songwriter herself, Suzi Woods sang with Jools Holland’s Swing Band in the 1990s. In recent years she has proved a hit with celebrities both fictional and real-life, singing both at Chardonnay and Kyle’s wedding in Footballers’ Wives and at the christening of David and Victoria Beckham’s two sons.

TERRy cLARkE BANDAn established singer/songwriter on the Midlands scene for many years, Terry is known for his groove-driven fusion of jazz, blues and song in a programme of his own originals and covers of the great singers.

TIPITINA Tipitina – with Debbie Jones’ powerful gospel-tinged vocals and Justin Randall’s mighty two-handed piano - deliver their own unique take on the blues, barrelhouse, boogie and gospel of New Orleans, in the footsteps of Professor Longhair, Dr. John, James Booker, Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint.Tipitina’s second CD for Big Bear, Taking Care of Business, recorded at the 2011 Birmingham festival, was greeted by uniformly enthusiastic reviews: ‘A wonderful CD, it superbly captures how this incredible band sound au naturelle...phenomenal. 10/10’ [Blues In Britain].

‘A joyous ride through up-tempo feel-good rockers, gospel-tinged ballads and crowd-pleasing sing-alongs. They're a barnstorming live act, few do this with such conviction.’ [Rock 'N' Reel]

TOM HILLCalifornian bassist Tom Hill has a great track record of appearances backing star musicians at the Birmingham festival. Domiciled in Birmingham for many years, Tom’s reputation as wit, wordsmith and comedian matches his status as one of the city’s most accomplished bass players.

UkULELE ROckSThe Great Ukulele Revival continues! The informal workshop run by Julian Cockshott of Ukulele Rocks at the Caffe Nero in Brindleyplace is open to all ages and all levels of ability, from absolute beginners upwards.

wALTER TROUT BAND (U.S.A.)Walter Trout’s career began on the Jersey coast in the late 1960s. When he relocated to Los Angeles, he became a sideman for Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. After working with John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex, he became the guitarist for Canned Heat in 1981 which led to a spell with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. When he left the Bluesbreakers in 1989, he formed the Walter Trout

Band which over the past 20-plus years has built a tremendous international fan base.

THE wHISkEy BROTHERSThe Whiskey Brothers featuring Richard Heath, on vocals and mandolin, and Gerry Smith, on piano, perform old style acoustic blues with songs from the great American blues tradition as well as their own material. In the mid 1990s, Richard and Gerry formed the Splinter Blues Band which apart from performing at venues like Ronnie Scott’s, also hosted a popular weekly blues club at the Hare and Hounds in south Birmingham for many years. In 2012 they reunited to form the Whiskey Brothers returning to their favourite style of music and the songs they most love to play. Since last year’s festival the Whiskey Brothers have released a highly successful album for Big Bear, Bottle up and Go.

ARTISTS A-Z

Tipitina


Ukulele Rocks


The Whiskey Brothers


AUdIENCE SURVEYSVolunteers will be passing amongst the audiences throughout the festival endeavouring to divert your attention long enough to complete a short survey. It would be really helpful if folk could cooperate on this. The completed surveys are an essential tool in raising the funds to enable us put on free performances every year. If you would like to complete a survey via email, send your email address to [email protected]

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Subscribe for £17.50 a year - 6 editions - a saving of £2 on the cover price and mailed free to your door

Jazz Rag Subscriptions, PO Box 944, Birmingham, B16 9UTPhone 0121 454 7020 Email: [email protected]

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SPONSORS OF THE FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

• Photographer-in-Residence Merlin Daleman• Photography Workshop Monday 18th at 17:30: Hampton-by-Hilton• Exhibition of Festival Photography in Waterstones during July• Meet The Photographer: Waterstones Tuesday 19th July at 18:00• Winter Exhibition of Festival Photography at New Street Station December 2016/January 2017


birmingham and solihull jazz and blues festival programme

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