25TH BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL - JULY 3RD TO 12TH

Here’s some Festival news hot off the press - and there will be more to come from now on every week.

It’s no secret that most UK jazz festivals, in common with many other events, have taken a particularly hard beating from the recession, with several important and high profile jazz festivals biting the dust. Birmingham’s is not immune from the cutbacks, but it only really shows in a slightly reduced number of events and in a reduced number of foreign attractions. Blame the weak pound for that one!

There will be at least 160 performances, with as many as possible free admission - around 90% we estimate.

The initial list of confirmed artists is: Alan Barnes, Alan Price Set, Art Themen, Becky Brine, Bruce Adams, Dave Green, Dave Newton, Dave Shepherd Quintet, Digby Fairweather, Enrico Tomasso, Eric Delaney, Europa Jazz Band, Fabulous Boogie Boys, Garry Allcock All-Stars Big Band, Greg Abate [USA], Hot Djazz of Krakow [Poland], Ian Bateman, Indigo Blues Band, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys, Kings Bruton Big Band, Mark Nightingale, MJHQ, MYJO, Nearly Dan, Pee Wee Ellis [USA], Petra Ernyei [Czech Republic], Ralph Salmins, Simon Spillett, Tipitina, Val Wiseman - and there are a lot more awaiting confirmation!

Star City is hosting a trio of big name artists over the first weekend: Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen [July 3rd], Alan Price Set [4th] and ex James Brown bandleader Pee Wee Ellis [5th]. It is free admission, free parking and each show kicks off at 7pm.

The Jazz Festival is set to go back to its roots on Thursday 8th July with the All Star Jam Session Volume 2. Back in 1984, Humphrey Lyttelton and Digby Fairweather headed such a Jam Session in Cannon Hill Park, featuring jazz luminaries Dick Morrissey and Peter King among the 12 man line-up. The success of that Jam Session directly inspired the creation of the Birmingham International Jazz Festival the following year, with Humph its guiding light and Patron for the next 23 years. Now Digby has taken up that banner. The Jam Session tradition as part of the festival continued for many years until the sponsorship wound down to such a level as to make it financially unfeasible. But to celebrate the first 25 years landmark, the City Council’s Culture & Environment Directorate are supporting its revival! The date is Thursday 9th July at 7PM in Birmingham’s splendid Botanical Gardens. Headed by the inspirational Digby Fairweather the musicians will line up in the classic Eddie Condon format with two hot front lines swapping choruses and exchanges over the same rhythm section. It will be hotter than hot with the classiest of mainstream and swing musicians in the frame.

New venues added this year include: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Old Contemptibles, The Mint, Rose Villa Tavern, The Vine in Ladywood, The Lord Clifden, Bohemia, Vertu, The Wellington, The Varsity in Harborne and Lee Longlands.


PHESTIVAL PHOCUS NUMBER ONE
From Prague, Czech Republic PETRA ERNYEI

Petra, born 1975, is a Czech citizen, growing up in a jazz-conscious family. She made her debut in America in the Sacramento Jazz Festival when she was 18. Back in Prague she immediately joined the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra led by Jan Matousek, with whom she still performs.

She also works with smaller groups, including the quartet of Jakub Šafr with whom she is currently recording a CD.

She released her debut CD in 1999- “Who Loves You”-in an authentic 1930s style while her second CD [2003] “Blue And Sentimental” was more classic 1940s-resonant of her main influence, Peggy Lee.

She featured at the 2003 Birmingham International Jazz Festival with the J.J. Jazzmen of Prague.

She now regularly appears in Prague at jazzclubs Zelezna, U Stare Pani and the Be Bop Bar of The Radisson Hotel.

Petra will play The Birmingham International Jazz Festival on July 10th, 11th and 12th.



For further information, details of hotel deals etc, please call Sarah Yang at 0121 454 7020