Now that's what I call a jam session! Eleven of the finest British jazz musicians playing in a beautiful garden setting.... An appreciative, jazz loving crowd and a balmy summer's evening.... Well it was a little cold, but what the heck, the music was sensational and the band and audience had a great time. Too many highlights to really do justice, but Val Wiseman was on fine form with 'All of Me' and standout songs from the Digby Fairweather-led band included 'Avalon', 'Robbin's Nest' and 'The Hucklebuck'.
Today is your last chance to catch the Grammy award nominated saxophonist Greg Abate. He'll be playing with the John Patrick Trio at Touchwood in Solihull, at 5pm, and at Birmingham's Wine Republic, at 8pm.
Also, make sure you check out the incredible Dutch swing guitarist Nomy Rosenberg, who's playing two shows today. A direct descendent of the legendary Django Reinhardt, Nomy has been overshadowed until recently by his older brother, Jimmy. As a member of his teenage band, Nomy performed at Carnegie Hall and shared stages with the likes of George Benson, Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton. The Jazz Festival, however, sees the Nomy Rosenberg Trio performing in the UK for the very first time. They'll be playing Taste of Birmingham at 12pm today (£10/£12) and for free at the Water's Edge Bandstand, Brindley Place, at 5pm.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Thursday 9th July
The Kings Bruton Big Band went down a treat yesterday at the Waters Edge Bandstand. Digby Fairweather was scintillating at Hotel du Vin last night, even singing! Becky Brine pulled in the diners at Lychee Garden, Bruce Adams was great at the Brasshouse, and dancing broke out at the first song of the King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys show at the Jam House.
Highlights today are the Digby Fairweather talk on '25 Years of the Jazz Festival', illustrated with exerpts of recorded music. This takes place on the ground floor of Borders book store in the Bullring this lunchtime at 12.30pm.
Not to be missed tonight is the Festival highlight, the All Star Jam Session, featuring eleven of the finest British jazz musicians. Taking place from 7.00-9.30pm (doors 6.30pm), tickets are only £10 and available on 0121 454 7020/1860. The weather forecast is good so feel free to bring picnic rugs/chairs. See an earlier post for more information on who's playing.
Festival footage of Hot Djazz, Greg Abate, Simon Spillett and Tipitina is now available for viewing on http://www.birminghamjazzfestivaltv.com/
Please note that all Play Jazz UK radio broadcasts will be taking place at City Inn due to technical difficulties connecting to their home station.
We'd love to have your online gig reviews from shows you've particularly enjoyed. Please follow the links on the web site http://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/
Highlights today are the Digby Fairweather talk on '25 Years of the Jazz Festival', illustrated with exerpts of recorded music. This takes place on the ground floor of Borders book store in the Bullring this lunchtime at 12.30pm.
Not to be missed tonight is the Festival highlight, the All Star Jam Session, featuring eleven of the finest British jazz musicians. Taking place from 7.00-9.30pm (doors 6.30pm), tickets are only £10 and available on 0121 454 7020/1860. The weather forecast is good so feel free to bring picnic rugs/chairs. See an earlier post for more information on who's playing.
Festival footage of Hot Djazz, Greg Abate, Simon Spillett and Tipitina is now available for viewing on http://www.birminghamjazzfestivaltv.com/
Please note that all Play Jazz UK radio broadcasts will be taking place at City Inn due to technical difficulties connecting to their home station.
We'd love to have your online gig reviews from shows you've particularly enjoyed. Please follow the links on the web site http://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Wednesday 8th July
Tonight is your last chance to see Digby Fairweather playing his solo set, backed up by the Craig Milverton trio, this time taking place at the tres chic Hotel du Vin at 7.30pm.
Other highlights today include the last session at the tremendously popular Lord Clifden. They conclude their involvement this year by showcasing the mighty sound of trumpeter Bruce Adams, playing tonight with the John Patrick Trio, at 8pm. If you haven't yet checked out this venue, and sampled their specially-brewed Festival Ale "Digby's Dilemma", then tonight is your last chance.
Val Wiseman, of Lady Sings The Blues fame, warms up for tomorrow's All Star Jam Session at the Botanical Gardens by taking her quartet to the Living Room at 8pm. She was recognised as one of the country's top singers with her first British Jazz Award in 2008.
Also recommended today are the Kings Bruton Big Band, a collection of talented young musicians playing a broad repertoire encompassing most jazz styles. Find them at Waters Edge Bandstand at 6pm. Please note that both their performances tomorrow (Thursday) will take place at City Inn.
Tomorrow Digby Fairweather will be giving an informal talk, illustrated with recordings, on '25 Years of the Jazz Festival' at Borders book store in the Bullring, before concluding his Jazz Festival involvement this year by fronting the All Star Jam Session.
Tickets for the All Star Jam Session, taking place from 7.00-9.30pm tomorrow evening at the Botanical Gardens (doors 6.30pm) are £10, and available on 0121 454 7020. Please feel free to bring picnic rugs/chairs. See an earlier post below for more details on the artists playing.
Other highlights today include the last session at the tremendously popular Lord Clifden. They conclude their involvement this year by showcasing the mighty sound of trumpeter Bruce Adams, playing tonight with the John Patrick Trio, at 8pm. If you haven't yet checked out this venue, and sampled their specially-brewed Festival Ale "Digby's Dilemma", then tonight is your last chance.
Val Wiseman, of Lady Sings The Blues fame, warms up for tomorrow's All Star Jam Session at the Botanical Gardens by taking her quartet to the Living Room at 8pm. She was recognised as one of the country's top singers with her first British Jazz Award in 2008.
Also recommended today are the Kings Bruton Big Band, a collection of talented young musicians playing a broad repertoire encompassing most jazz styles. Find them at Waters Edge Bandstand at 6pm. Please note that both their performances tomorrow (Thursday) will take place at City Inn.
Tomorrow Digby Fairweather will be giving an informal talk, illustrated with recordings, on '25 Years of the Jazz Festival' at Borders book store in the Bullring, before concluding his Jazz Festival involvement this year by fronting the All Star Jam Session.
Tickets for the All Star Jam Session, taking place from 7.00-9.30pm tomorrow evening at the Botanical Gardens (doors 6.30pm) are £10, and available on 0121 454 7020. Please feel free to bring picnic rugs/chairs. See an earlier post below for more details on the artists playing.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Jazz Festival Hotel Deals
Several hotels are offering very special rates for Jazz Festival visitors. Please contact the hotel directly and ask for the Jazz Festival Rate.
City Inn - Bed and Breakfast £69 single, £79 double. Brunswick Square, Brindley Place, 0121 643 1003
Hotel du Vin - Bed and breakfast £99.25. Church Street, 0121 200 0600
Ibis Birmingham Centre - Room only £50, breakfast £5.50. 21 Ladywell Walk, 0121 622 6010
Blueberry Hotel - Room only from £39. Star City, Heartlands Parkway 0121 327 1183
City Inn - Bed and Breakfast £69 single, £79 double. Brunswick Square, Brindley Place, 0121 643 1003
Hotel du Vin - Bed and breakfast £99.25. Church Street, 0121 200 0600
Ibis Birmingham Centre - Room only £50, breakfast £5.50. 21 Ladywell Walk, 0121 622 6010
Blueberry Hotel - Room only from £39. Star City, Heartlands Parkway 0121 327 1183
All-Star Jam Session
The Birmingham International Jazz Festival is set to celebrate its first quarter of a century in the same way it started, with an All Star Jam Session.
Back in 1984 Birmingham-based independent record company Big Bear Records organised a jam session, in Cannon Hill Park, featuring the dozen top UK jazz musicians of the day. It was a sell-out, the recorded album won "Jazz Album of the Year" and before the sun went down, Big Bear and the City Council had agreed to launch the Jazz Festival the subsequent year.
So it is only to be expected that the main feature event of the 25th Birmingham International Jazz Festival will see another amazing array of the top British jazz talent, eleven of them, onstage together at The Botanical Gardens on Thursday 9th July at 7pm.
It has been many a year since such Jazz Galacticos, poll winners to a man, have been on one stage together. Digby Fairweather, Festival Patron and the only one of the Team of 1984 to play in this year's version, will lead affairs on trumpet, alongside Enrico Tomasso, also on trumpet, Robert Fowler and Art Themen, tenor saxophones, Mark Nightingale and Ian Batemen, trombones, Jim Hart, vibes, David Newton, piano, Dave Green, double bass, Ralph Salmins, drums and Val Wiseman, vocals.
Between them they have clocked up appearances alongside the biggest names in the music biz. Tickets are priced at £10 and available from 0121 454 7020 or 0121 454 1860.
Back in 1984 Birmingham-based independent record company Big Bear Records organised a jam session, in Cannon Hill Park, featuring the dozen top UK jazz musicians of the day. It was a sell-out, the recorded album won "Jazz Album of the Year" and before the sun went down, Big Bear and the City Council had agreed to launch the Jazz Festival the subsequent year.
So it is only to be expected that the main feature event of the 25th Birmingham International Jazz Festival will see another amazing array of the top British jazz talent, eleven of them, onstage together at The Botanical Gardens on Thursday 9th July at 7pm.
It has been many a year since such Jazz Galacticos, poll winners to a man, have been on one stage together. Digby Fairweather, Festival Patron and the only one of the Team of 1984 to play in this year's version, will lead affairs on trumpet, alongside Enrico Tomasso, also on trumpet, Robert Fowler and Art Themen, tenor saxophones, Mark Nightingale and Ian Batemen, trombones, Jim Hart, vibes, David Newton, piano, Dave Green, double bass, Ralph Salmins, drums and Val Wiseman, vocals.
Between them they have clocked up appearances alongside the biggest names in the music biz. Tickets are priced at £10 and available from 0121 454 7020 or 0121 454 1860.
Tuesday 7th July
Festival Patron Digby Fairweather played his first two shows of the festival yesterday. He opened in good form at the pleasantly full Brasshouse, accompanied by the Craig Milverton Trio. His evening performance was at the Ibis Hotel, this time accompanied by versatile Craig Milverton on piano and ever popular singer Becky Brine. Both shows, featuring well known songs done with style and humour, were very well received by the audience.
If you missed Digby he plays two shows both today and tomorrow. You can find him today at the Plough and Harrow 12.30pm followed by a Musician's Union presentation (with Dave O'Higgins, Chris Walker and the John Patrick Trio) at Wine Republic 7pm. He also gives a talk at Borders bookshop 12.30pm Thursday, before concluding with the All Star Jam Session at Botanical Gardens on Thursday at 7pm (tickets are only £10 and are available from 0121 454 7020/1860).
Greg Abate played a stormer last night at a busy Lord Clifden. If you haven't yet seen him, you can catch this Grammy award nominee either today or on Friday. He takes his extended bebop style to the Brasshouse at 12.30pm this lunchtime followed by an early evening performance at 5.30pm at Waters Edge Bandstand (which, in the event of rain, will be switched to the adjacent Slug & Lettuce. Please note, this is a time and venue change to the printed programme). Like Charlie Parker? You'll love Greg Abate.
If you fancy some quirky, witty, edgy jazz songs, be sure to check out excellent songwriter Suzahn Fiering, all the way from Nashville USA, playing today at the Ibis hotel 6pm.
If you missed Digby he plays two shows both today and tomorrow. You can find him today at the Plough and Harrow 12.30pm followed by a Musician's Union presentation (with Dave O'Higgins, Chris Walker and the John Patrick Trio) at Wine Republic 7pm. He also gives a talk at Borders bookshop 12.30pm Thursday, before concluding with the All Star Jam Session at Botanical Gardens on Thursday at 7pm (tickets are only £10 and are available from 0121 454 7020/1860).
Greg Abate played a stormer last night at a busy Lord Clifden. If you haven't yet seen him, you can catch this Grammy award nominee either today or on Friday. He takes his extended bebop style to the Brasshouse at 12.30pm this lunchtime followed by an early evening performance at 5.30pm at Waters Edge Bandstand (which, in the event of rain, will be switched to the adjacent Slug & Lettuce. Please note, this is a time and venue change to the printed programme). Like Charlie Parker? You'll love Greg Abate.
If you fancy some quirky, witty, edgy jazz songs, be sure to check out excellent songwriter Suzahn Fiering, all the way from Nashville USA, playing today at the Ibis hotel 6pm.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Late Programme Change
Due to technical problems, today's Play Jazz UK live radio broadcast will now take place at City Inn 3-6pm instead of the Lord Clifden.
A reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday) the second show by Greg Abate will now take place at Waters Edge Bandstand 5.30pm instead of Old Contemptibles 6pm as advertised.
A reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday) the second show by Greg Abate will now take place at Waters Edge Bandstand 5.30pm instead of Old Contemptibles 6pm as advertised.
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