Festival Programme

Here is the complete gig programme for the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.

Sun Sets On Successful Jazz Festival

The 26^th Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival draw to a close on Sunday 25^th July with the last of the 218 scheduled performances – although two jam sessions did go on until well into the night.

The festival was a great success, both musically and in audience, with a record attendance figure and an increase in numbers off jazz tourists from UK and abroad.

The international artists numbered thirteen from the USA, Canada, Spain, Hungary, France, Czech Republic, Italy and Germany.

The blues programme was headlined by Chick Willis, the 76 year-old guitarist and singer from Macon, Georgia who delivered 10 high-powered performances to delighted and capacity audiences.

The 40-strong volunteer force were an International Brigade with festival workers from China, Italy, Poland, Brazil, Mexico and France.

Festival Director Jim Simpson said: “This is the best festival we have had in years. It’s also the first in seven years when we didn’t get rained on, it is very noticeable how much more numerous and good-humoured the crowds are when the sun is out. In the wake of the disappointing UK City of Culture announcement, this is just the event to replace the gloom with optimism and the knowledge that, regardless of any formal announcement, Birmingham is undoubtedly a significant and important home of culture.”

The 27^th Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival is set for July 1^st to 10^th 2011.

Star City - Guitar City

The Star City district is proud to be a part of the Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival and presented three high-quality concerts on the opening day of the festival.

On Friday 16^th July Star City presenting “Guitar Day”, where Professional Music Technology displayed their range of professional valve amplifiers and their wide spectrum of classic and modern guitars in a series of talks and workshops.

The evening brought about a performance from one of Britain’s finest guitarists Martin Taylor, who wowed the audience with his high octane solos.

Other performances included Bob Kerr and his Whoopee Band on Saturday 17^th, which was a highly entertaining performance as he lead the musical hilarity with a variety of instruments.

The US bluesman Chick Willis topped off the weekend on Sunday 18^th, with his mixture of blues and contemporary R&B; a show stopper of a performance for sure.

Jazz, Blues and Heritage

The Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival has always sought to find unusual venues for jazz and this year there was a special emphasis on heritage sites and tourist destinations, which play a big part in making Birmingham what it is.

The Barber's Institute of Fine Arts will aired a lunch-time concert on Friday 16^th July, where award-winning American Drake University Big Band shook the stands with their big band styling.

Birmingham's historic Botancial Gardens will played host to two concerts on Sunday 18th: Carol Sudhalter in the morning and Britain's Got Talent runner up Julian Smith with the Monday Sessions in the evening.

Warwick Castle enjoyed the royal treatment on Friday 23^rd July, when Chicago-style band Judy Eames and The Kaminsky Connection - who have an impressive repertoire of songs including jazz standards, blues, ballads and “boogie woogie” piano – performed well into the summer evening.

Visitors at Dudley Zoo enjoyed a swinging jazz session on Sunday 25th July, as the Midlands-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band treated the audience and the animals alike to classic jazz compositions from the 1920s to the 1940s, as well as New Orleans blues, stomps and marches.

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley was paid a visit from the high-octane jump and jive band King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys on Saturday 24^th July. Saturday also saw Cadbury World getting plenty of the sweet stuff from the Martinique Jazz Band on, who supplied the crowds with a wide variety of jazz styles.

Welcome back to the land of jazz - with added blues

Birmingham’s annual Jazz celebration came back with a bang this year; taking on a new Blues element as it entered its second quarter of a century.

In 10 jazz and blues packed days from July 16^th to 25^th, Birmingham and its legions of jazz visitors enjoyed more than 200 performances and events, in 60 venues across the city and beyond, and over 90% of events were absolutely free to the public.

After 25 years, the festival had taken on a significant new blues element this year with performances by internationally renowned blues artists from the USA, Canada, Italy and Germany, as well as a strong UK contingent. Boss of the Blues Chick Willis [Macon, Georgia] headlined, appearing in no less than 10 shows during the festival – as well as holding the sway in a Q&A session in Waterstones Bookstore.

Naturally the jazz fans were not neglected, and welcomed first-time UK appearances from The Village Lizards from Budapest, Drake University Big Band from the USA and Jazz band Velke Losiny from the Czech Republic, as well as many other returning acts.

The swing contingent was headed by King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, and included The Fabulous Lounge Swingers (pictured above at the Watersedge bandstand), The Dirty Robbers and The Jive Romeros.

Britain’s Got Talent runner up Julian Smithplayed a special open air concert in the Botanical Gardens, which made a nice footnote to his first Birmingham Jazz Festival performance some 10 years ago, when he played in shopping areas.

Other outdoor events were held at leading tourist destinations throughout the region including visiting Dudley Zoo & Castle, The Black Country Living Museum and Warwick Castle and many more.

More than ever the festival went out onto the streets this year, with performances throughout the City Centre; in bars, cafes, restaurants, stores, hotels, museums and art galleries, and most importantly on the streets of the city. The festival was also set on the move with performances on canals boats, buses and train stations.

Jazz and blues fans also enjoyed a series of talks and interviews called “Hear Me Talking To You”, which will be hosted in Waterstones Bookstore and PMT music store. This was complimented by an interactive photography project, two photographic exhibitions, a daily photo seminar and a vocal workshop – free and open to all – entitled “Everybody Has A Voice”. All of this, combined with a brand new vinyl album release, helped to bring Birmingham to life with the sound of jazz and blues music.

Sunday 12th July

The smooth, mellow sounds of Petra Ernyei brought out the sun and welcomed the crowds to yesterday's Taste of Birmingham at Cannon Hill Park. You couldn't move in the Slug and Lettuce at lunchtime as Art Themen played to a wonderfully appreciative audience.

The Black Country Living Museum hosted a wonderful Jazz Party yesterday evening, featuring the talents of three very different bands. The Nomy Rosenberg Trio (pictured above at Waters Edge Bandstand on Friday) played two knockout sets of Dutch gypsy swing in the Workers' Institute. Dave Moorwood's Rascals of Rhythm brought along their straight-ahead jazz, and Brown's Brass Band provided the perfect musical accompaniment to a Charleston Dance workshop!

Highly recommended today is Petra Ernyei (pictured, left, at Taste of Birmingham). She brings her high-class delivery to Hotel du Vin at 1pm, with her final show at the Slug and Lettuce at 6pm. Also recommended are Katya Gorrie, playing the Round Room, Museum and Art Gallery at 2pm, and Tipitina at Living Room 4pm.

Finally if you haven't yet caught up with the sensational Nomy Rosenberg Trio, then don't miss them today. They play The Public, West Bromwich, at 1pm before closing the festival at the Garden House at 8pm. You'll find us there!

Saturday 11th July

Two hugely accomplished sets from the Nomy Rosenberg Trio, at the Brindley Place Bandstand, yesterday evening. A large, enthusiastic crowd was treated to some of the finest Gypsy swing around, effortlessly played by three world class performers who seem to have this music in their blood. Passers by who stumbled across the show couldn't help hanging around to listen and many of them were clearly in awe of Nomy's technical prowess on the fretboard. The trio ran through many of the tracks from their debut Big Bear release, including 'Swing 48', 'My Bossa' and 'Claire de Lune'. And did I mention that like almost every event at this festival the show was completely free?

If you missed it, or can't wait to hear more, then the Trio are playing at the Mailbox at 12.30pm today and at the Garden House at 8pm on Sunday.

Other highlights today include the singer Petra Ernyei, who will be performing at Taste at 12pm (£10/£12) and at the Bohemia Restaurant at 7.30pm (free). And don't miss the wonderfully original saxophonist Art Themen who'll be playing for free at the Brindley Place Bandstand at 1pm and at the Garden House at 7.30pm.

Check out the website for full listings or pick up a free programme, available from all the usual outlets.

N.B. I bumped into the indefatigable Becky Brine at the City Inn hotel yesterday afternoon. She's performed to early morning commuters at Snow Hill Station, to the nighthawks at the Stageside Bar and to appreciative audiences in between, as well.....and she's still full of energy and clearly loving every minute of this fantastic festival!