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WWW.BIRMINGHAMJAZZFESTIVAL.COM<br />
FESTIVAL@BIGBEARMUSIC.COM<br />
HOTLINE: 0121 454 7020<br />
Twitter: @birmjazzfest #BIJF15<br />
Facebook.com/birminghamjazzfestival/<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>7th</strong> <strong>1915</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>July</strong> 1<strong>7th</strong> <strong>1959</strong>
With grateful thanks <strong>to</strong> the Festival’s Sponsors and supporters<br />
without whom there would be no Festival.<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
I am once again delighted <strong>to</strong> welcome the International Jazz and Blues<br />
Festival <strong>to</strong> Birmingham for another year.<br />
COUNCILLOR IAN WARD<br />
This festival is an important event in Birmingham’s calendar and an<br />
opportunity <strong>to</strong> experience live music from across the jazz and blues<br />
spectrum.<br />
However, this festival is much more than an opportunity <strong>to</strong> see<br />
live music as there is also the prospect of taking part in dance<br />
sessions, watching film screenings, accessing classes in music and<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphy or browsing exhibitions. This 10 day festival attracts<br />
people of all ages with a no barriers access policy and invariably free<br />
events.<br />
Last year’s festival played <strong>to</strong> over 90,000 people, which is incredible,<br />
and I am sure that this year it will be another success as we welcome<br />
big names from across the world, a <strong>to</strong>tal of 295 musicians in 61 bands.<br />
Yet again, the range of Jazz and Blues on offer make this year’s event a must go festival for residents<br />
and visi<strong>to</strong>rs alike. I always look forward <strong>to</strong> this event immensely and highlight it in my diary so that I can<br />
be sure <strong>to</strong> enjoy as much of what is on offer as I can.<br />
I hope you enjoy this great festival as much as I know I will.<br />
Ian Ward<br />
Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council<br />
Friends of the festival:<br />
LADY SINGS THE BLUES<br />
Celebrating the centenary of <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
Featuring Val Wiseman, Digby Fairweather, Julian Stringle,<br />
Roy Williams, Brian Dee, Len Skeat and Eric Ford<br />
“Val Wiseman gives an uncanny reproduction of the <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
style and sound. Arrangements are based on the original records,<br />
but with solos often surpassing the old masters. Val catches the<br />
vulnerability of <strong>Holiday</strong>, twisting the lyrics in<strong>to</strong> heart-breaking short<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ries of hope, or of the betrayed with the small but urgent voice<br />
exposing all the doubts and confusion behind the bright delivery.”<br />
The Guardian<br />
Library of Birmingham Studio Theatre<br />
Friday 10th <strong>July</strong> at 7pm<br />
“What is happening might even be a shade better than what was<br />
being played all those years ago.” BBC Radio 2<br />
Tickets £12 From Box office:<br />
0121 245 4455 or www.birmingham-box.co.uk<br />
Further information 0121 454 7020<br />
2 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ACKNOWLEDGMENTS<br />
Festival Patron: Digby Fairweather<br />
Advisory Board: Dan Cole, David Pardoe, Derek Inman, Jill Hitchman, John Hemming, John James,<br />
John Patrick, Cllr. Rob Sealey<br />
Festival Direc<strong>to</strong>r: Jim Simpson<br />
Commercial and Development Direc<strong>to</strong>r: Tim Jennings<br />
Business and Marketing Manager: Yue Yang<br />
Development Manager: Russell Fletcher<br />
Programme Edi<strong>to</strong>r: Ron Simpson<br />
Programme & Publicity Design: Nerys James (nerys.james@gmail.com)<br />
Planning and Co-ordination: Lise-Marie Hacquin, Marine Nicolas<br />
Chinese Creative Team: Lan Wang, Tiantian Fang, Chih-Yu Chang<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>grapher: Merlin Daleman (www.merlindaleman.com)<br />
Film Crew: Greg Gdowski & Margaret Maslanka www.fiftysevenstudio.com<br />
Media: Andrei Tiu, William Ellis, Vinod Birdi<br />
Technical Managers: Davyd Bagby, Errol Taylor, Nick Hart<br />
Transport Manager: Kieron Burns<br />
Technical Support: Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Green<br />
Performances are free unless denoted otherwise. In restaurant<br />
performances accepted etiquette applies in terms of dining.<br />
THE BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL<br />
PO Box 944, Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, Birmingham B16 8UT<br />
Find us on<br />
facebook.com/birminghamjazzfestival/<br />
tweet us your festival pictures and reviews<br />
at @birmjazzfest and #brumjazzfest<br />
Chinese Media Manager: Jie Ren, Mengnan Wang, Shasha Zhang, Shuai Yuan, Zhirong Yu<br />
Volunteers: Aaron Henworth, Mauro Ghiani, Manyee Yiu, Kerrie Barber, Peter Suddock<br />
Artists Booking: Big Bear Music Agency 0121 454 7020 agency@bigbearmusic.com<br />
PA & Backline: PMT Lawley Middleway Birmingham B4 7XX - 0121 359 5056<br />
Drums & Backline: Laney, Tama & Zildjian<br />
Mobile Communications: Cartel Communications 0121 622 5555<br />
Accountants: David Cutter & Co (www.davidcutter.co.uk)<br />
Book-keeper: Juliet Kenny<br />
Website: Rob Sealey [www. thosecleverwebpeople.com]<br />
Hotel Partner: Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n [www.hamp<strong>to</strong>n.com]<br />
Special Thanks To:<br />
Adam Evans; Alan Warner; Alexandra Brierley; Alice Weryk; Alison McKenna; Anita Dinham; Ann<br />
Tonks; Barry Bayliss; Ben Thomas; Bob Nor<strong>to</strong>n; Botanical Gardens; Brett Gibbons; Chris Hall; Chris<br />
Taylor; Colin Marlow; Curtis Buck; Dan Auty; Daron Billings; Dave Travis; David Baldwin, Sam Bishop &<br />
Thomas Lawes of The Electric Cinema; David Pardoe; Diane McInerney; Elaine Willians; Emma Yufera-<br />
Ruiz; Garry Chapman; Gemma Meah; Gerv Havill; Graham Smith; Graham Young; Jabbar Khan; James<br />
Burkmar; James Lagneau; James Wheeler; James Wong; Jane Jia; Jenny Wilkes; Jeremy Swales; Jo<br />
Sweet; Joanna Torbus; Jojo Han from UK Chinese Journal; Kevin Bol<strong>to</strong>n; Kim Hill; Leon Shutkever;<br />
Lina Higuita; Loubie Goldie; Louise Alden; Lucy Elvin; Luke Crane; Matt Grimes; Matt Hutchings; Matt<br />
Scriven; Mi Lan; Michele Wilby; Mike Bushell; Mike Olley; Nigel Barker; Patrice Hourbette of Music LX;<br />
Patrick Power; Paul Bradford and Mark Dovas<strong>to</strong>n; Paul Cole; Paul Roobot<strong>to</strong>m; Paulo Jacin<strong>to</strong>; Peter<br />
Hodgson, Siew Kuan Yap and Lisa Travers of Blue Piano; Peter Suddock; Pip White; Richard Morris;<br />
Richard Perry; Rimante Sodeikiene & Rita Valiukonyte of Lithuanian Embassy in the UK; Roy Priest;<br />
Sam Vaziri; Shannon Lewis; Sue Wilkinson; Sushil Virmani; Tahreem Bhatti; Tony Elvin; Tony Lewis;<br />
Warwick Printing; Zack Foley<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
Phone: 0121 454 7020 Email: festival@bigbearmusic.com<br />
THE JAZZ FESTIVAL BOARD<br />
Behind this short, sharp celebration of jazz, blues and related music lies many months<br />
of planning and organisation. Driving this forward is the Jazz Festival Advisory Board,<br />
a very special group of people who freely give up time, expertise and enthusiasm in<br />
order <strong>to</strong> help shape this Festival. Without the benefit of their wisdom, knowledge and<br />
encouragement it would be impossible.<br />
John Patrick John James Derek Inman John Hemming<br />
Cllr. Rob Sealey Jill Hitchman David Pardoe Dan Cole<br />
BOARD CHANGES<br />
The Festival Board lost two of its members since last year. Philip Parkin resigned as a City<br />
Councillor and as a Board Member and Danny Longstaff sadly passed away <strong>April</strong> 1st 2015.<br />
The Festival is pleased <strong>to</strong> welcome <strong>to</strong> the Festival Board:<br />
• Dan Cole: Dan Cole is a keen music and gig goer, who through his Caffè Nero S<strong>to</strong>res,<br />
has helped support and expose upcoming artists <strong>to</strong> Birmingham audiences.<br />
• David Pardoe: David Pardoe is Head of Retail at the Mailbox in Birmingham and a board<br />
member of Retail Birmingham<br />
• Jill Hitchman: Birmingham-born journalist, author and founder of Abstract Media.<br />
Interests include music and travel, plus a passion for plain English.<br />
4 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 5
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSDAY 2 ND JULY 2015<br />
18.00 Blue Piano OPENING PARTY: Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
FRIDAY 3 RD JULY 2015<br />
11:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
The Broombusters<br />
12:00<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Lee Benson<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Florence Joelle [France]<br />
with support: Ella Squirrell<br />
13:10<br />
Barber Institute of Fine Arts<br />
Art Themen Quartet<br />
15:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
15:00<br />
Pizza Express, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
The Rumblestrutters<br />
15:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
C-Jam<br />
17:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Jake Leg Jug Band<br />
with support: Ella Squirrell<br />
17:00<br />
Chung Ying Central<br />
Art Themen Quartet<br />
Art Themen<br />
17:30<br />
Le Monde<br />
Florence Joelle [France]<br />
18:00<br />
New Street Station<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
18:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
Ricky Cool & The In Crowd<br />
18:15<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
18:30<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Madi Stimpson<br />
19:00<br />
The Shakespeare<br />
C-Jam<br />
19:30<br />
Thimblemill Library<br />
Steve Ajao Blues Giants<br />
19:30<br />
St George’s School<br />
Kansas Smitty’s House<br />
Band<br />
£12<br />
20:00<br />
Fiddle & Bone<br />
The Broombusters<br />
20:30<br />
Bacchus<br />
The Rumblestrutters<br />
20:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
21:00<br />
Grosvenor Casino<br />
Jake Leg Jug Band<br />
21:15<br />
Kings Head<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
6 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 7
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURDAY 4 TH JULY 2015<br />
10:00<br />
Custard Fac<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
VIP Record Fair<br />
11:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
12:00<br />
The Parade, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
Eureka Jazz<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
13:00<br />
The Square Shopping Centre<br />
C-Jam<br />
13:30<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
13:30<br />
Sam’s Jazz On The Water<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
15:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
15:00<br />
Pop-Up Dancehall<br />
THE CATFISH KINGS and THE<br />
SWING ERA: Lindy Hop Dance<br />
Lessons<br />
15:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
Brothers Groove<br />
15:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
17:00<br />
New Street Station<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
17:00<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
Beginner Drums Instrumental<br />
Workshop<br />
17:00<br />
Pop-Up Dancehall<br />
Sticky Wicket’s Hepcats and<br />
the SWING ERA: Social Dancing<br />
18:00<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
Rebecca Downes<br />
18:00<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
A TRIP THROUGH TIME FOR<br />
DRUMS Instrumental Workshop<br />
18:15<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
Beginner Guitar Instrumental<br />
Workshop<br />
18:15<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
18:30<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
An Interactive His<strong>to</strong>ry of<br />
Hip Hop Instrumental Workshop<br />
19:00<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
The Catfish Kings<br />
19:00<br />
Chung Ying<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
19:15<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
Blues & Jazz Improvisation<br />
for Guitar Instrumental<br />
Workshop<br />
NEW IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER<br />
Last year the Festival <strong>to</strong>ok St. Paul’s Square by s<strong>to</strong>rm,<br />
pulling in three times the average number of visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong><br />
the area. This year it’s the turn of the Jewellery Quarter’s<br />
newest stage for creative talent, The Golden Square,<br />
soon <strong>to</strong> be home <strong>to</strong> the first ever JQ Festival, strEAT food<br />
market and JQ Grand Bazaar. The Golden Square hosts<br />
three lunch-time jazz performances on successive days:<br />
the Digby Fairweather Quartet (<strong>July</strong> 9th), Hot Jazz Alliance<br />
(10th) and the Schwings featuring Laura Budreckyte (11th).<br />
20:00<br />
The Welling<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
20:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
21:00<br />
Grosvenor Casino<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
8 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 9
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNDAY 5 TH JULY 2015<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
The Catfish Kings<br />
13:30<br />
Fiddle & Bone<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
www.thegrandbirmingham.co.uk<br />
Sponsors of the Chinese Jitterbug Squad 2015<br />
Monday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />
Remi Harris Trio<br />
18:00<br />
@GrandBrum<br />
Sunday 12th <strong>July</strong><br />
Sarah Lenka [France]<br />
12:30<br />
Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar<br />
0121 454 5368<br />
65 Harborne Road, Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B15 3BU • hola@elborracho.co.uk<br />
14:00<br />
Waters Edge Bandstand<br />
Blues Engine<br />
14:00<br />
Botanical Gardens<br />
Derek Nash Quartet<br />
£7/£4.75<br />
14:45<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
15:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
The Catfish Kings<br />
17:00<br />
Slug & Lettuce, Brindleyplace<br />
Matt Palmer’s Millennium<br />
Eagle Jazz Band<br />
17:00<br />
O’Neills<br />
The Broombusters<br />
17:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
18:00<br />
Kings Head<br />
Derek Nash Quartet<br />
18:00<br />
Miller & Carter Hockley Heath<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
18:15<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
Beginner Guitar Instrumental<br />
Workshop<br />
18:30<br />
Soloman Cutler<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
18:30<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
BEGINNER VOCALS Voice<br />
Workshop<br />
19:00<br />
The Junction, Harborne<br />
Blues Engine<br />
19:00<br />
Birmingham Music School<br />
Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar<br />
Workshop Instrumental<br />
Workshop<br />
19:00<br />
Botanical Gardens<br />
MYJO £15<br />
19:30<br />
The Lord Clifden<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
20:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
MIKE BURNEY<br />
Festival favourite and<br />
leading West Midlands<br />
musicians, saxophonist<br />
Mike Burney finally lost<br />
his battle against cancer<br />
and passed away on<br />
November 13th 2014. Our<br />
condolences go <strong>to</strong> his<br />
wife, Sue, and his family<br />
and friends.<br />
To keep up <strong>to</strong> date on news and changes <strong>to</strong> the programme check the Birmingham Mail<br />
regularly. The Mail will update the programme on a daily basis.<br />
10 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 11
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com MONDAY 6 TH JULY 2015<br />
BIG BAND CONCERTS IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS<br />
The tradition of Sunday Evening jazz concerts in The Botanical Gardens is<br />
long-established as a Festival highlight.<br />
The picturesque setting of these idyllic gardens makes a perfect backdrop <strong>to</strong><br />
an evening of jazz.<br />
MAILBOX AT LUNCH-TIME<br />
One regular daily feature of the Festival is a lunch-time performance at the Mailbox, with<br />
a splendidly international selection of bands and musicians: Florence Joelle from France,<br />
Saxitude from Luxembourg, Sweden’s S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers, Malaya Blue (despite the<br />
name, from the UK), Harpers Ferry with members from the UK, USA and New Zealand,<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance (USA and Australia), the Schwings and Laura Budreckyte from Lithuania,<br />
Italy’s Pepper and the Jellies, Czech reedman Jerry Senfluk with his Quartet and Les Zau<strong>to</strong><br />
S<strong>to</strong>mpers de Paris (from France, of course!).<br />
12:00<br />
Snow Hill Station Square*<br />
Backyard Music Boys<br />
18:00<br />
El Borracho de Oro<br />
Remi Harris<br />
20:00<br />
Soloman Cutler<br />
Bruce Adams Quartet<br />
Sunday 5th <strong>July</strong> – 7pm<br />
MYJO [MIDLAND YOUTH JAZZ<br />
ORCHESTRA] £15<br />
Directed by John Ruddick MBE,<br />
MYJO has been described as one<br />
of the world’s <strong>to</strong>p young big bands.<br />
Unbeaten in the BBC National Big<br />
Band Competition for twenty years.<br />
Sunday 12th – 7pm<br />
WALSALL JAZZ ORCHESTRA £10<br />
The Walsall Jazz Orchestra [1994] grew<br />
out of the Walsall Youth Jazz Orchestra<br />
[1975]. Direc<strong>to</strong>r John Hughes leads the 18<br />
piece band which, unlike the vast majority<br />
of big bands, plays contemporary, rather<br />
than traditional big band music. They<br />
have <strong>to</strong>ured USA and Poland, partnered<br />
with Gary Bur<strong>to</strong>n, Steve Swallow, John<br />
Dankworth and others.<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Malaya Blue<br />
12:30<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Bruce Adams Quartet<br />
sponsored by Mars<strong>to</strong>ns Beer<br />
Company<br />
12:30<br />
Gracechurch Centre, Sut<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Coldfield<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge Four<br />
17:30<br />
Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n Hotel<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>graphy Workshop with<br />
Merlin Daleman<br />
18:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
19:30<br />
The Lord Clifden<br />
Malaya Blue with support:<br />
Ella Squirrell<br />
19:30<br />
Cradley Heath Library<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
19:30<br />
Praza<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
SPECIAL FESTIVAL HOTEL RATE<br />
The Hamp<strong>to</strong>n by Hil<strong>to</strong>n Hotel on Broad Street is<br />
the Festival’s partner hotel and offers a preferential<br />
rate <strong>to</strong> festival-goers of £59 a room (double/twin)<br />
or £69 (family room).<br />
20:00<br />
White Horse, Harborne<br />
Pete York Big Five<br />
The Birmingham Jazz<br />
and Blues Festival is very<br />
grateful for the support of<br />
Birmingham business in<br />
the form of the Colmore<br />
Business District, the<br />
Jewellery Quartet BID,<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield BID and<br />
the Westside BID.<br />
Wet Weather Alternative:<br />
* The Old Joint S<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
BRING A PICNIC<br />
Tickets available from Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B15 3TR<br />
0121 454 1860 and www.theticketsellers.co.uk<br />
This rate includes hot breakfast, Wi-Fi and VAT.<br />
Contact 0121 329 7450 or visit www.hbhbroadstreet.co.uk and use the<br />
code JF4 <strong>to</strong> get the special rate.<br />
12 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 13
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com TUESDAY 7 TH JULY 2015<br />
12:00<br />
Church Street Square*<br />
Eureka Jazz<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
12:30<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Remi Harris<br />
sponsored by Mars<strong>to</strong>ns Beer<br />
Company<br />
14:00<br />
Hagley Road Village<br />
Alan Barnes Quartet<br />
15:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
18:00<br />
Hotel du Vin<br />
Alan Barnes Quartet<br />
18:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
19:00<br />
Don Diego, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
Remi Harris<br />
19:30<br />
The Lord Clifden<br />
Pete York Big Five<br />
20:00<br />
The Black Eagle<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
Wet Weather Alternative:<br />
* Pub du Vin<br />
20:00<br />
The Roadhouse<br />
Chick Wren’s Rollin’ River<br />
Band plus Rainbreakers, The<br />
Lost Notes, Shinesoul and<br />
Nicole Lionette<br />
£5<br />
20:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
20:45<br />
The Perry Hill Tavern<br />
Old Comrades Jazz Band<br />
14 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 15
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com WEDNESDAY 8 TH JULY 2015<br />
Join in with the<br />
THE BIG<br />
Chris Barber Band<br />
at TOWN HALL Birmingham<br />
25th of September 2015, 7.30 pm<br />
Tickets: tickets.thsh.co.uk<br />
Or at the box office<br />
Ticket hotline 0121 345 0600<br />
SPECIAL FESTIVAL OFFER<br />
Reduction of GBP 3<br />
At the box office: with voucher<br />
Online/ by telephone:<br />
please mention code BARBER3<br />
This reduction is valid until<br />
Friday 31 <strong>July</strong> 2015.<br />
Reduction<br />
£3 off<br />
a ticket<br />
(Valid until Friday 31 <strong>July</strong> 2015)<br />
The BIG Chris<br />
Barber Band at<br />
Birmingham<br />
Town Hall<br />
25 September<br />
2015<br />
Promotional code<br />
BARBER3<br />
John<br />
Hemming<br />
12:00<br />
St Pauls Square<br />
MATT PALMER'S Millennium<br />
EAGLE JAZZ BAND<br />
12:00<br />
Snow Hill Station Square*<br />
Sauce City Jazz<br />
12:30<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
sponsored by Mars<strong>to</strong>ns Beer<br />
Company<br />
12:30<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Music For Youth<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
14:00<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield Library<br />
Brooks Williams [USA]<br />
14:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
17:30<br />
Café Opus<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
17:45<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
19:00<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Brooks Williams [USA]<br />
19:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Guitar Superjam with<br />
Adrian Ingram, Lee Jones,<br />
Remi Harris<br />
Guitar Conversations and<br />
Superjam<br />
£10/£8 Concessions<br />
19:30<br />
The Lord Clifden<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
19:30<br />
Central Library West Bromwich<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
TAMA DRUMS/ZILDJIAN CYMBALS<br />
Many thanks <strong>to</strong> Tama Drums and Zildjian Cymbals for<br />
supplying drum kits for the festival. In particular, Tama<br />
and Zildjian are providing outstanding equipment for an<br />
outstanding drummer on Pete York’s return <strong>to</strong> Birmingham.<br />
20:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
John Hemming & The Jazz<br />
Lobbyists with Lorraine<br />
Donovan<br />
21:00<br />
Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Harpers Ferry [USA/NZ/UK]<br />
21:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Sweet and Lowdown with<br />
Sean Penn [Film]<br />
£8.40 / £5.40<br />
Performances are free<br />
unless denoted otherwise.<br />
In restaurant performances<br />
accepted etiquette applies<br />
in terms of dining.<br />
Wet Weather Alternative:<br />
* Old Joint S<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
VOLUNTEERS<br />
WANTED<br />
The Festival depends<br />
on the volunteer army<br />
whose efforts enable the<br />
event <strong>to</strong> function properly.<br />
Volunteers are already at<br />
work in the Festival office<br />
and around the city, but<br />
it’s not <strong>to</strong>o late <strong>to</strong> come on<br />
board.<br />
We are looking for<br />
drivers, technical staff, IT,<br />
distribution, marketing, PR<br />
and admin. Call Sarah on<br />
0121 454 7020 or email<br />
sarah@bigbearmusic.com.<br />
16 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 17
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSDAY 9 TH JULY 2015<br />
12:00<br />
St Pauls Square<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
12:00<br />
Golden Square<br />
Digby Fairweather Quartet<br />
12:00<br />
Birmingham Cathedral Grounds*<br />
Chase Jazzmen<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
The Schwings featuring Laura<br />
Budreckyte [Lithuania]<br />
12:30<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Music For Youth<br />
12:30<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
The Broombusters<br />
sponsored by Mars<strong>to</strong>ns Beer<br />
Company<br />
12:30<br />
Gracechurch Centre, Sut<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Coldfield<br />
Backyard Music Boys<br />
15:00<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
17:30<br />
Waters Edge Bandstand<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
18:00<br />
White Swan, Harborne<br />
The Broombusters<br />
18:00<br />
Balcony Brasserie Selfridges<br />
Remi Harris with support:<br />
Ella Squirrell<br />
18:15<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
19:00<br />
Fiesta Del Asado<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
19:00<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Dale S<strong>to</strong>rr<br />
19:30<br />
MAC<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
19:30<br />
Great Barr Library<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
20:00<br />
The Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Tipitina with Pete York £15<br />
[includes traditional New Orleans<br />
Red Beans & Rice]<br />
20:00<br />
Miller & Carter Hockley Heath<br />
John Patrick Trio<br />
20:00<br />
The Junction, Harborne<br />
Digby Fairweather Quartet<br />
20:00<br />
Pushkar<br />
The Schwings featuring Laura<br />
Budreckyte [Lithuania]<br />
20:30<br />
The Jam House<br />
King Pleasure & the Biscuit<br />
Boys with support:<br />
Ella Squirrell<br />
£5.50<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE BLUE PIANO<br />
One of three pho<strong>to</strong>graphic exhibitions at this year’s festival,<br />
the Blue Piano on Harborne Road again welcomes visi<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
with Birmingham: The Land of Jazz, Merlin Daleman’s<br />
striking images of festivals past and many of the great<br />
musicians involved in them.<br />
Also on the pho<strong>to</strong>graphic trail Havill & Travis in Harborne<br />
showcase Festival Direc<strong>to</strong>r Jim Simpson’s 1960s<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphs in Buck, Basie and The Blues, and the<br />
work of participants in the Pho<strong>to</strong>graphy Project will be<br />
temporarily screened in the lobby of the Hamp<strong>to</strong>n by Hil<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
20:30<br />
Electric Cinema<br />
Amy [Film]<br />
From £8.40<br />
21:00<br />
All Bar One<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
Wet Weather Alternative:<br />
* Old Contemptibles<br />
18 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 19
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com FRIDAY 10 TH JULY 2015<br />
GUITAR SUPERJAM<br />
Adrian<br />
Ingram<br />
Featuring on stage<br />
Lee<br />
Jones<br />
Guitar Conversations and Guitar Superjam<br />
Wednesday 8th <strong>July</strong> 7pm £10 / £8 concessions<br />
Remi<br />
Harris<br />
SWEET AND LOWDOWN [film with Sean Penn]<br />
Wednesday 8th <strong>July</strong> 8pm £8.40 / £5.40 concessions<br />
The Electric Cinema, 47-49 Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY<br />
Tickets from: 0121 643 7879 or www.theelectric.co.uk<br />
10:15<br />
St. Pauls Church<br />
Jazz Workshop: Digby<br />
Fairweather/Mark Wallace<br />
in association with<br />
Perry Beeches 11<br />
12:00<br />
St Pauls Square, Jewellery<br />
Quarter<br />
Ben Holder Trio<br />
12:00<br />
Church Street Square*<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge Four<br />
12:00<br />
Golden Square<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
12:30<br />
Gracechurch Centre, Sut<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Coldfield<br />
Chase Jazzmen<br />
12:30<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Music For Youth<br />
12:30<br />
Caffe Nero, Harborne<br />
Ella Squirrell<br />
12:30<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Chris Corcoran<br />
13:10<br />
Barber Institute of Fine Arts<br />
SARAH LENKA [France] with<br />
BRIAN DEE TRIO<br />
14:30<br />
Birmingham Conserva<strong>to</strong>ire<br />
PETE YORK WORKSHOP FOR<br />
DRUMS with Music For Youth<br />
17:00<br />
St Pauls Square<br />
Simon Spillett Quartet<br />
17:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance [USA/<br />
Australia]<br />
17:00<br />
Chung Ying Central<br />
Sheila Waterfield Quartet<br />
17:30<br />
Arcadian<br />
The Broombusters<br />
17:30<br />
Le Monde<br />
The Schwings featuring Laura<br />
Budreckyte [Lithuania]<br />
17:30<br />
The Drop Forge<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
17:30<br />
Birmingham Conserva<strong>to</strong>ire<br />
PETE YORK WORKSHOP<br />
18:00<br />
New Street Station<br />
Ben Holder Trio<br />
18:30<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Chase Jazzmen<br />
19:00<br />
Studio Theatre, Library of<br />
Birmingham<br />
Lady Sings The Blues £12<br />
19:00<br />
Pentahotel<br />
SARAH LENKA [FRANCE] with<br />
KEITH BILL TRIO<br />
19:30<br />
Ibis<br />
Ricky Cool & The In Crowd<br />
19:30<br />
Blackheath Library<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
19:30<br />
Solihull Arts Complex<br />
Andy Fairweather Low &<br />
The Low Riders £21<br />
20:00<br />
The Black Eagle<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
20:30<br />
Bacchus<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
21:00<br />
The Bureau<br />
Simon Spillett Quartet<br />
with support Ella Squirrell<br />
21:00<br />
Grosvenor Casino<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
21:15<br />
Kings Head<br />
THE SCHWINGS featuring LAURA<br />
BUDRECKYTE [LITHUANIA]<br />
Wet Weather Alternative<br />
* Old Joint S<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
20 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 21
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURDAY 11 TH JULY 2015<br />
11:00<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
15:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
19:00<br />
The Blue Piano<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
11:00<br />
The Dark Horse, Moseley<br />
THE SWING ERA: Solo dance<br />
workshop with Katie Sewell<br />
£15<br />
11:30<br />
Golden Square<br />
The Schwings featuring Laura<br />
Budreckyte [Lithuania]<br />
12:00<br />
The Parade, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge Four<br />
12:00<br />
Birmingham Museum<br />
& Art Gallery<br />
BEING PREZ talk by Dave Gelly<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Jerry Senfluk Quartet<br />
[Czech Republic]<br />
13:00<br />
Birmingham Museum<br />
& Art Gallery<br />
DAVE GELLY TRIO<br />
16:00<br />
Bournville Village Green<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
17:00<br />
Bournville Village Green<br />
Jerry Senfluk Quartet<br />
[Czech Republic]<br />
17:00<br />
Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong> In Print<br />
– A discussion with Digby<br />
Fairweather and Dave Gelly<br />
18:00<br />
Bournville Village Green<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
19:00<br />
Chung Ying Can<strong>to</strong>nese<br />
Restaurant<br />
Simon Spillett Quartet<br />
The Schwings with Laura Budreckyte<br />
19:45<br />
Hagley Road Village<br />
Digby Fairweather’s Half<br />
Dozen £10<br />
20:00<br />
The Welling<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
20:00<br />
Le Monde<br />
SARAH LENKA [FRANCE] with<br />
BRIAN DEE TRIO<br />
20:30<br />
The Drop Forge<br />
The Schwings featuring Laura<br />
Budreckyte [Lithuania]<br />
21:00<br />
Grosvenor Casino<br />
Dave Gelly Trio<br />
14:00<br />
Caffe Nero<br />
Ukulele Rocks: Learn To Play<br />
Session<br />
14:00<br />
Golden Square<br />
SARAH LENKA [FRANCE] with<br />
BRIAN DEE TRIO<br />
15:00<br />
New Street Station<br />
Simon Spillett Quartet<br />
22 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 23
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNDAY 12 TH JULY 2015<br />
Jerry Senfluk<br />
12:30<br />
Mailbox<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
12:30<br />
El Borracho De Oro<br />
SARAH LENKA [FRANCE] with<br />
BRIAN DEE and LEN SKEAT<br />
13:00<br />
Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
14:00<br />
Botanical Gardens<br />
Jerry Senfluk Quartet<br />
[Czech Republic]<br />
£7/£4.75<br />
15:00<br />
Marmalade<br />
Dave Gelly Quartet<br />
15:00<br />
The Brasshouse<br />
LITTLE JO & THE MISFITS<br />
(sponsored by Timothy Taylor<br />
Landlord)<br />
16:00<br />
Piccolino Restaurant<br />
SARAH LENKA [FRANCE] with<br />
BRIAN DEE<br />
17:00<br />
Slug & Lettuce, Brindleyplace<br />
Jerry Senfluk Quartet<br />
[Czech Republic]<br />
17:00<br />
New Inn<br />
Steve Ajao Blues Giants<br />
17:00<br />
O’Neills<br />
Ricky Cool & The In Crowd<br />
17:30<br />
Pure Bar & Kitchen<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
18:00<br />
Kings Head<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
19:00<br />
Botanical Gardens<br />
Walsall Jazz Orchestra<br />
£10<br />
19:30<br />
The Lord Clifden<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
19:30<br />
White Horse, Harborne<br />
Little Jo & The Misfits<br />
14:00<br />
Hotel Du Vin<br />
Pepper & The Jellies [Italy]<br />
To keep up <strong>to</strong> date on news and changes <strong>to</strong> the<br />
programme check the Birmingham Mail regularly. The Mail<br />
will update the programme on a daily basis.<br />
JAZZ IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS<br />
The Botanical Gardens in Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n are always one of the most attractive venues for the<br />
Festival, with special concerts on both Sunday evenings. This year the theme is big band<br />
jazz, a sound in proportion with the picturesque bowl before the bandstand, with two of the<br />
Midlands’ finest award-winning big bands. On <strong>July</strong> 5 the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra<br />
take <strong>to</strong> the Gardens and on <strong>July</strong> 12 it’s the turn of the Walsall Jazz Orchestra.<br />
Tickets from www.theticketsellers.co.uk or 0121 454 1860.<br />
In addition there are two fine Sunday afternoon concerts in the Gardens with the Derek<br />
Nash Quartet (5) and the Jerry Senfluk Quartet (12).<br />
24 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 25
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
SUTTON COLDFIELD WELCOMES<br />
31st Birmingham<br />
Jazz & Blues Festival<br />
<strong>July</strong> 3rd <strong>to</strong> 12th 2015<br />
DATE ARTIST TIME<br />
Friday 3rd <strong>July</strong><br />
Saturday 4th <strong>July</strong><br />
Monday 6th <strong>July</strong><br />
Tuesday <strong>7th</strong> <strong>July</strong><br />
Wednesday 8th <strong>July</strong><br />
Thursday 9th <strong>July</strong><br />
Friday 10th <strong>July</strong><br />
Saturday 11th <strong>July</strong><br />
Pizza Express:<br />
The Rumblestrutters 15:00<br />
The Parade:<br />
Eureka Jazz 12:00<br />
Gracechurch Centre:<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge Four 12:30<br />
Don Diego:<br />
Remi Harris Trio 19:00<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield Library:<br />
Brooks Williams [USA] 14:00<br />
Gracechurch Centre:<br />
Backyard Music Boys 12:30<br />
Gracechurch Centre:<br />
Chase Jazzmen 12:30<br />
The Parade:<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge Four 12:00<br />
RESORTS WORLD BIRMINGHAM – A NEW VENUE FOR<br />
JAZZFEST 2016<br />
Resorts World Birmingham<br />
will transform the leisure and<br />
entertainment landscape in<br />
Greater Birmingham when it<br />
opens in late summer this year.<br />
Located on the NEC Campus<br />
and adjacent <strong>to</strong> the Genting<br />
Arena, Resorts World<br />
Birmingham is a £150m<br />
leisure and entertainment<br />
destination that will offer the<br />
West Midlands its first large<br />
scale outlet shopping mall, a<br />
four star boutique hotel with<br />
five star suites, Asian themed<br />
Medi-Spa, 11 screen IMAX<br />
cinema, conferencing facilities,<br />
casino and a wide choice of<br />
bars and restaurants.<br />
This will be the first Resorts<br />
World complex <strong>to</strong> open in<br />
Europe and will join a family<br />
of other destinations located<br />
around Asia and the US.<br />
Owned and operated by<br />
Genting UK, Resorts World<br />
Birmingham will form part of<br />
entertainment portfolio of the<br />
Malaysian owned global leisure<br />
business Genting Group.<br />
What can you expect <strong>to</strong> find<br />
when you visit Resorts World<br />
Birmingham? A fifty unit outlet<br />
shopping experience that<br />
will fulfil the needs of every<br />
shopper looking for bargains<br />
from some of the highest<br />
profile retail brands. A new<br />
11 screen cinema operated<br />
by Cineworld who will be<br />
premiering their first purpose<br />
built IMAX screen in the UK.<br />
State of the art conference<br />
facilities operated by the<br />
ICC offering meeting space<br />
from small board room style<br />
meetings <strong>to</strong> banquets for up <strong>to</strong><br />
900 delegates.<br />
A 178 room four star hotel<br />
and spa will have an Asian<br />
influence, the Genting<br />
International Casino bringing<br />
a 21st century approach<br />
<strong>to</strong> gaming. Resorts World<br />
Birmingham will be alive from<br />
morning until late in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
evening. A diverse range of<br />
bars and restaurants located<br />
within the complex will offer<br />
guests choices from some of<br />
the UK’s most popular brands<br />
such as TGI Fridays and Pizza<br />
Express <strong>to</strong> new concepts<br />
in dining and bars created<br />
specifically for Resorts World<br />
Birmingham by Genting UK.<br />
They will include the Highline<br />
New York Bar and Lounge.<br />
This will be the go <strong>to</strong> bar for<br />
those who are looking for<br />
a sophisticated experience<br />
with a wide selection of<br />
contemporary cocktails,<br />
champagne and premium<br />
beers and with a strong New<br />
York influence – the essence of<br />
the Big Apple will be bought <strong>to</strong><br />
Birmingham. It will be adjacent<br />
<strong>to</strong> this location that each<br />
Thursday, Friday and Saturday<br />
guests will be able <strong>to</strong> enjoy<br />
a Late Lounge called Trax<br />
where you can experience the<br />
best music late in<strong>to</strong> the night<br />
created by the region’s <strong>to</strong>p<br />
DJ’s as you sip your favourite<br />
cocktail.<br />
Other bars include the World<br />
Bar, here the focus is very<br />
much around enjoying drinks<br />
with friends as you choose<br />
from a vast array of artisan<br />
beers selected from some<br />
of the most skilled brewers<br />
located around the world. The<br />
Sky Bar, which unsurprisingly<br />
is located at the <strong>to</strong>p of the<br />
building with superb views, will<br />
have a strong Asian influence<br />
reflecting Genting’s Malaysian<br />
heritage. Food and drink will<br />
be designed around the five<br />
key elements of Asian culture<br />
known as ‘Wu Zing’ with a<br />
unique Teriyaki and Yaki<strong>to</strong>ri grill<br />
where food will be prepared<br />
before your eyes.<br />
Resorts World Birmingham<br />
has been years in the planning,<br />
two years <strong>to</strong> construct and<br />
when it opens this summer will<br />
bring a new, exciting, diverse<br />
and compelling leisure and<br />
entertainment experience <strong>to</strong><br />
Greater Birmingham.<br />
www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk<br />
26 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 27
VENUES www.birminghamjazzfestival.com VENUES<br />
All Bar One<br />
43 Newhall Street, B3 3NY<br />
0121 212 2551<br />
Arcadian<br />
Hurst St Southside, B5 4TD<br />
0121 622 5348<br />
Bacchus<br />
New Street,<br />
Burling<strong>to</strong>n Arcade, B2 4JH<br />
0121 632 5445<br />
Balcony Brasserie,<br />
Selfridges<br />
The Bullring,<br />
Upper Mall East, B5 4BP<br />
0121 600 6869<br />
Barber Institute<br />
of Fine Arts<br />
University of Birmingham, B15 2TS<br />
0121 414 7333<br />
BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE<br />
Paradise Place,<br />
Fletcher’s Walk, B3 3HG<br />
07530 567643<br />
Birmingham Museum & Art<br />
Gallery<br />
Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH<br />
0121 348 8007<br />
Black Eagle<br />
16 Fac<strong>to</strong>ry Road, Hockley, B18 5JU<br />
0121 523 4008<br />
Blackheath Library<br />
145 High St,<br />
Rowley Regis B65 0EA<br />
0121 559 1884<br />
Blue Piano<br />
24-26 Harborne Rd, B15 3AA<br />
0121 454 6877<br />
Botanical Gardens<br />
Westbourne Road,<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B15 3TR<br />
0121 454 1860<br />
Bournville Village Green<br />
Bournville, B30 2AA<br />
0121 374 2139<br />
Brasshouse<br />
44 Broad Street, B1 2HP<br />
0121 633 3383<br />
Brindleyplace<br />
Waters Edge Bandstand, B1 2DS<br />
0121 643 6866<br />
Bureau<br />
110 Colmore Row, B3 3AG<br />
0121 236 1110<br />
Café Opus<br />
1 Oozells St, B1 2HS<br />
0121 248 3226<br />
Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace<br />
4 Brindleyplace, B1 2JP<br />
0121 643 4572<br />
Caffe Nero, Harborne<br />
143-151 High Street, B17 9NP<br />
0121 427 9104<br />
Cathedral Grounds<br />
Birmingham<br />
Colmore Row B3 2QB<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
Central Library, West<br />
Bromwich<br />
High Street,<br />
West Bromwich, B70 8DZ<br />
0121 569 4904<br />
Chung Ying Can<strong>to</strong>nese<br />
Restaurant<br />
16 – 18 Wrottesley Street, B5 4RT<br />
0121 622 5669<br />
Chung Ying Central<br />
126 Colmore Row, B3 3AP<br />
0121 400 0888<br />
Church Street Square<br />
Church Street,<br />
0121 236 4689<br />
Cradley Heath Library<br />
Upper High Street,<br />
Cradley Heath, B64 5JU<br />
01384 569 316<br />
Don Diego, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
5 Manor Road,<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield, B73 6EJ<br />
0121 355 5354<br />
Drop Forge<br />
6-10 Hockley Street,<br />
The Jewellery Quarter B18 6BL<br />
0121 448 4578<br />
El Borracho de Oro<br />
Harborne Court,<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B15 3BU<br />
0121 454 5368<br />
Fiddle & Bone<br />
4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AE<br />
0121 200 2223<br />
Fiesta Del Asado<br />
229 Hagley Road,<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B16 9RP<br />
0121 455 9331<br />
Golden Square<br />
Jewellery Quarter, B18 6NF<br />
0121 233 2814<br />
Gracechurch Centre,<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
210a The Parade,<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield, B72 1PA<br />
0121 355 1112<br />
Great Barr Library<br />
Birmingham Rd, B43 6NW<br />
0121 357 1340<br />
Grosvenor Casino<br />
Fiveways Leisure Complex,<br />
Broad Street, B15 1AY<br />
0121 665 4985<br />
Hagley Road Village<br />
322-336 Hagley Rd,<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B17 8BH<br />
0121 420 6000<br />
Hamp<strong>to</strong>n By Hil<strong>to</strong>n,<br />
Broad Street<br />
200 Broad Street, B15 1SU<br />
0121 329 7450<br />
Hotel Du Vin<br />
25 Church Street B3 2NR<br />
0121 200 0600<br />
Ibis, Birmingham<br />
City Centre<br />
21 Ladywell Walk B5 4ST<br />
0121 622 6010<br />
Jam House<br />
St Paul's Square,<br />
The Jewellery Quarter B3 1QU<br />
0121 200 3030<br />
Junction, Harborne<br />
212 High St, Harborne, B17 9PT<br />
0121 428 2635<br />
Kings Head, Bearwood<br />
Hagley Road, Harborne, B17 8BJ<br />
0121 277 4130<br />
Le Monde<br />
Brindleyplace, B1 2HL<br />
0121 271 0600<br />
Library Of Birmingham,<br />
Studio Theatre<br />
Centenary Square,<br />
Broad Street, B1 2ND<br />
0121 245 4455<br />
Lord Clifden<br />
34 Great Hamp<strong>to</strong>n Street,<br />
Hockley, B18 6AA<br />
0121 523 7515<br />
MAC<br />
Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH<br />
0121 446 3232<br />
Mailbox<br />
7 Commercial Street, B1 1RS<br />
0121 632 1000<br />
Marmalade<br />
Birmingham Reper<strong>to</strong>ry Theatre,<br />
Broad Street, B1 2EP<br />
0121 245 2080<br />
Miller & Carter,<br />
Hockley Heath<br />
Stratford Road, Hockley Heath,<br />
Solihull, B94 6NL<br />
01564 784137<br />
New Inn, Harborne<br />
74 Vivian Road, Harborne, B17 0DJ<br />
0121 426 3373<br />
New Street Station<br />
New Street, B2 4QA<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
O’Neills<br />
Broad St, City Centre, B1 2HG<br />
0121 616 1623<br />
Parade, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield<br />
Gracechurch Shopping Centre, Sut<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Coldfield, B72<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
Pentahotel<br />
Holloway Head, B1 1NS<br />
0121 622 8801<br />
Perry Hill Tavern<br />
23 Perry Hill Road, Oldbury,<br />
B68 0AR<br />
0121 422 6600<br />
Piccolino Restaurant<br />
9 Brindleyplace, B1 2HS<br />
0121 634 3055<br />
Pizza Express, Sut<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Coldfield<br />
5-7 Birmingham Road,<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield, B72 1QA<br />
0121 354 9261<br />
Pop-Up DanceHall<br />
Regency Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
Praza<br />
94-96 Hagley Road,<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, B16 8LU<br />
0121 456 4500<br />
Pure Bar & Kitchen<br />
30 Waterloo Street, B2 5TJ<br />
0121 237 5666<br />
Pushkar<br />
245 Broad St, B1 2HQ<br />
0121 643 7978<br />
Sam’s Jazz On The Water<br />
Birmingham<br />
Canal Boat Services,<br />
Gas St Basin B1 2JT<br />
07760 492 965<br />
Shakespeare<br />
Summer Row, B3 1JJ<br />
0121 236 8702<br />
Slug & Lettuce,<br />
Brindleyplace<br />
The Water's Edge, B1 2HL<br />
0121 633 3049<br />
Snow Hill Station Square<br />
Colmore Row, B3 2BJ<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
Solihull Arts Complex<br />
Library Square, Touchwood,<br />
Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG<br />
0121 704 6962<br />
Soloman Cutler<br />
Regency Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS<br />
0121 631 8930<br />
Square Shopping Centre,<br />
Dale End<br />
5 Priory Square, B4 7LJ<br />
0121 236 5303<br />
St George’s School<br />
31 Calthorpe Road, B15 1RX<br />
0121 454 0099<br />
St Pauls Square<br />
St Pauls Square,<br />
Jewellery Quarter, B3 2BJ<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield Library<br />
Lower Parade, Sut<strong>to</strong>n Coldfield,<br />
B72 1XX<br />
0121 464 2274<br />
The Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n<br />
18 Highfield Road, B15 3DU<br />
0121 454 5212<br />
Thimblemill Library<br />
Thimblemill Road,<br />
Smethwick,<br />
B67 5RJ<br />
0121 429 2039<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square<br />
50 Pinfold Street, B2 4AY<br />
0121 454 7020<br />
Welling<strong>to</strong>n<br />
37 Bennetts Hill, B2 5SN<br />
0121 200 3115<br />
White Horse, Harborne<br />
2 York Street, B17 0HG<br />
0121 427 8004<br />
White Swan, Harborne<br />
Harborne Road, B15 3TT<br />
0121 454 2359<br />
Performances are free<br />
unless denoted otherwise.<br />
In restaurant performances<br />
accepted etiquette applies<br />
in terms of dining.<br />
28 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 29
HOLIDAY IN BIRMINGHAM<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
MADELEINE PEYROUX<br />
2015 is the centenary of<br />
the greatest and most<br />
influential of jazz singers. On<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>7th</strong>, <strong>1915</strong>, Eleanora<br />
Fagan, aka <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>,<br />
aka Lady Day, was born in<br />
Philadelphia and, over 50<br />
years after her death, her<br />
influence on the present<br />
generation shows no sign<br />
of decreasing, with stars of<br />
the magnitude of Madeleine<br />
Peyroux acknowledging her<br />
importance.<br />
Birmingham Jazz and Blues<br />
Festival is devoting the<br />
second week-end <strong>to</strong> Lady<br />
Day, in performances, talks,<br />
films and displays. The first<br />
major event is in the Studio<br />
Theatre of the Library of<br />
Birmingham on Friday <strong>July</strong><br />
10. Val Wiseman’s acclaimed<br />
show, Lady Sings the Blues,<br />
originally staged in the 1987<br />
Birmingham festival, has<br />
been enthralling audiences<br />
throughout the UK and<br />
internationally ever since.<br />
With an all-star sextet,<br />
including three of the original<br />
band - Digby Fairweather,<br />
Roy Williams and Len Skeat<br />
-, Val is generally regarded as<br />
an outstanding interpreter of<br />
<strong>Billie</strong>’s songs.<br />
Award-winning French singer<br />
Sarah Lenka regards <strong>Billie</strong><br />
as being one of the major<br />
influences on her work - and<br />
she is singing the songs of<br />
Lady Day in no fewer than six<br />
early afternoon and evening<br />
performances between<br />
<strong>July</strong> 10 and 12: the Barber<br />
Institute, the Pentahotel,<br />
Golden Square, Le Monde,<br />
El Borracho de Oro and<br />
Piccolino.<br />
However, <strong>Holiday</strong> in<br />
Birmingham will permeate<br />
the whole festival for three<br />
days. Many bands and<br />
musicians will be including<br />
a set of <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong> songs<br />
in their performances: the<br />
Ben Holder Trio, Pepper and<br />
the Jellies, Sheila Waterfield<br />
Quartet, the Schwings with<br />
Laura Budreckyte and Jerry<br />
Senfluk.<br />
The s<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
and her music has been <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
in print many times, from her<br />
au<strong>to</strong>biography with William<br />
Dufty, Lady Sings the Blues,<br />
<strong>to</strong> John Szwed’s 2015 study,<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong> - The Musician<br />
& the Myth. At the Hamp<strong>to</strong>n<br />
by Hil<strong>to</strong>n on <strong>July</strong> 11 eminent<br />
jazz musicians and writers,<br />
Digby Fairweather and Dave<br />
Gelly, discuss <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong> in<br />
Print and earlier in the same<br />
day at Birmingham Museum<br />
and Art Gallery Dave Gelly<br />
talks about Being Prez,<br />
his book about her closest<br />
musical partner, Lester<br />
Young. And, of course,<br />
Dave’s own performances<br />
on <strong>July</strong> 11 and 12 will reflect<br />
an even stronger than usual<br />
Lester Young influence.<br />
Throughout the <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
weekend look out for<br />
showings of short films of<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> and a display of rare<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphs, news cuttings<br />
and letters from <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
Albert McCarthy - for which<br />
the festival is very grateful for<br />
the generous co-operation of<br />
the National Jazz Archive.<br />
Madeleine Peyroux,<br />
the acclaimed singer,<br />
songwriter and guitarist<br />
from Athens, Georgia,<br />
reflects on the influence of<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>.<br />
I don’t think any sound can<br />
s<strong>to</strong>p you in your tracks like<br />
the sound of <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>.<br />
It’s instant immersion,<br />
no distractions. When<br />
she did it <strong>to</strong> me, I was a<br />
teenage runaway aspiring<br />
<strong>to</strong> be a singer, or just <strong>to</strong> be<br />
somebody. I was struck with<br />
her simplicity, her power of<br />
suggestion, and a sense that<br />
we weren’t so different, she<br />
and I. Vulnerable and <strong>to</strong>ugh,<br />
blissful and forlorn, naive and<br />
bitter. I dug in deep.<br />
Wherever I looked, I found<br />
more and more <strong>Billie</strong>. Ten<br />
volumes on Columbia<br />
Records with the small group<br />
sessions that would define<br />
an era’s sound and material.<br />
From the late thirties <strong>to</strong> early<br />
forties she recorded every<br />
song under the sun with the<br />
masters of understatement<br />
at her side: Teddy Wilson,<br />
Lester Young, Freddie<br />
Green, Jo Jones. Each song<br />
has an alternate life below<br />
the surface, sometimes its<br />
best life, in her reading. In<br />
1939 she s<strong>to</strong>od still, bold,<br />
and strong, and performed<br />
Strange Fruit at every<br />
show. She was a force! It<br />
unleashed a racist campaign<br />
against her that would<br />
eventually take her life.<br />
As I grew in<strong>to</strong> singing, I<br />
wanted <strong>to</strong> dig deeper in<strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Billie</strong>. I explored her later<br />
arrangements with Decca<br />
and Verve, and her final<br />
masterpiece, Lady in Satin.<br />
I had <strong>to</strong> watch out. With<br />
her, you could be swept<br />
away on a wild ride through<br />
the whole of comedy and<br />
tragedy. It was a ride from<br />
which, at times, I was afraid<br />
I might never return. There is<br />
a kind of despair that teens<br />
know well, and though I was<br />
singing her songs, I faced<br />
my own fears and tragedies.<br />
My inner demons and their<br />
voices over<strong>to</strong>ok hers, and<br />
at eighteen I had <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p,<br />
<strong>to</strong> step back and deal with<br />
depression. But, as a dark<br />
and scary path becomes<br />
the path <strong>to</strong> triumph, I came<br />
through and I was given the<br />
chance <strong>to</strong> sing again.<br />
Unbeknownst <strong>to</strong> me at first,<br />
my career would be an<br />
hommage <strong>to</strong> <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>.<br />
By career I mean identity,<br />
sisterhood, tenacity and<br />
strength. In her company I’d<br />
found self-worth, kindness<br />
and love. This is not a wild<br />
ride from which one wants<br />
<strong>to</strong> return. No! It urges us<br />
onward! Pioneer, poet,<br />
martyr, woman: Happy<br />
Birthday <strong>Billie</strong>! In our ears<br />
you are still singing. In our<br />
hearts, you live forever.<br />
Madeleine Peyroux<br />
30 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Alan<br />
Barnes<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin<br />
Daleman<br />
Andy Fairweather Low<br />
and The Low riders<br />
Andy Fairweather Low first<br />
came <strong>to</strong> prominence as the<br />
lead singer in Amen Corner.<br />
The 60s saw them clock up<br />
hit after pop hit, with songs<br />
such as Bend Me Shape Me,<br />
Hello Suzy and (If Paradise<br />
is) Half As Nice, which are<br />
internationally remembered<br />
<strong>to</strong> this day.<br />
Since the early days, Andy<br />
has gone on <strong>to</strong> work with<br />
Eric Clap<strong>to</strong>n, George<br />
Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jimi<br />
Hendrix, El<strong>to</strong>n John, The<br />
Who, and countless others.<br />
His first solo album in<br />
twenty-four years, Sweet<br />
Soulful Music, was released<br />
late in 2007, followed by<br />
The Very Best Of Andy<br />
Fairweather Low, which was<br />
released in the UK in June<br />
2008.<br />
Alan Barnes Quartet<br />
No Birmingham jazz festival<br />
would be complete without<br />
the outstanding saxophonist/<br />
clarinettist Alan Barnes<br />
whose career since leaving<br />
Humphrey Lyttel<strong>to</strong>n’s Band<br />
in 1992 has seen him playing<br />
with many <strong>to</strong>p American<br />
jazzmen, collecting British<br />
awards galore in at least<br />
five categories, running his<br />
own Woodville record label<br />
and pursuing an active<br />
and successful career as<br />
composer and arranger.<br />
Birmingham audiences will<br />
especially remember his<br />
Marbella Jazz Suite and for<br />
some years years he worked<br />
closely with the late Alan<br />
Plater, most recently on their<br />
play with songs, Looking<br />
for Buddy, at Newcastle’s<br />
Live Theatre in 2009. In the<br />
tradition of Barnes literary<br />
suites, the end of 2015 will<br />
see him <strong>to</strong>uring his jazz<br />
version of A Christmas Carol.<br />
Art Themen<br />
The wonderfully original<br />
saxophonist Art Themen<br />
managed throughout a long<br />
and successful career as an<br />
orthopaedic surgeon <strong>to</strong> build<br />
a major reputation on the<br />
British jazz and blues scene,<br />
initially picking up national<br />
awards with the Cambridge<br />
University Jazz Band, then<br />
playing and <strong>to</strong>uring with the<br />
WESTSIDE BID<br />
The Westside BID,<br />
previously known as the<br />
Broad Street BID, is again<br />
one of the key sponsors<br />
of the Jazz and Blues<br />
Festival. So great is the<br />
BID’s involvement that their<br />
input almost amounts <strong>to</strong><br />
a festival within a festival –<br />
and one that would grace<br />
any decent-sized <strong>to</strong>wn on<br />
its own!<br />
www.westsidebid.co.uk<br />
likes of Alexis Korner, Mick<br />
Jagger and Jack Bruce<br />
before lending his Sonny<br />
Rollins-influenced tenor sax<br />
<strong>to</strong> many <strong>to</strong>p jazz groups.<br />
Since retirement from<br />
medicine, Art has gone from<br />
strength <strong>to</strong> strength, with the<br />
British Jazz Award for tenor<br />
sax coming his way in 2008.<br />
AT THE BLUE PIANO<br />
The Blue Piano in Harborne<br />
Road is again playing its part<br />
in the Birmingham Jazz and<br />
Blues Festival. Among other<br />
events regular performers<br />
at the celebrated blue piano<br />
have joined the festival<br />
programme: LEE BENSON,<br />
MADI STIMPSON, FRANK<br />
LEADON & QUIQUE SIMON<br />
and CHRIS CORCORAN.<br />
To keep up <strong>to</strong> date on news and changes <strong>to</strong> the<br />
programme check the Birmingham Mail regularly. The Mail<br />
will update the programme on a daily basis.<br />
32 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 33
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
DANNY LONGSTAFF<br />
26th August<br />
1952-1st <strong>April</strong><br />
2015<br />
Among many other things,<br />
a long-serving member<br />
of the Board of The<br />
Birmingham Jazz & Blues<br />
Festival.<br />
Brooks<br />
Williams<br />
Broombusters<br />
A great loss <strong>to</strong> his family,<br />
his many friends and <strong>to</strong><br />
music.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
Jake Leg Jug Band<br />
BACKYARD MUSIC BOYS<br />
This four piece acoustic<br />
band captures the<br />
excitement and verve of<br />
1920s/1930s hot jazz. Lining<br />
up with clarinet, trumpet,<br />
sousaphone and banjo, led<br />
by Matt Palmer, they are<br />
equally comfortable strolling<br />
or static onstage.<br />
BEN HOLDER<br />
Ben Holder is one of the<br />
most gifted and exciting<br />
young jazz violinists in<br />
the UK. Taught classically<br />
from the age of six, he<br />
studied at the Birmingham<br />
Conserva<strong>to</strong>ire. During his<br />
classical studies, Ben began<br />
listening <strong>to</strong> jazz - classic<br />
masters such as Benny<br />
Goodman and Oscar<br />
Peterson and of course the<br />
great jazz violinists including<br />
Grappelli, Joe Venuti and the<br />
awe inspiring Stuff Smith.<br />
Ben's innate sense of swing<br />
rhythm stems from those<br />
early listening sessions - and<br />
his various awards bear<br />
testimony <strong>to</strong> his abilities.<br />
BIRMINGHAM MUSIC<br />
SCHOOL<br />
The Birmingham Music<br />
School on Vyse Street in the<br />
Jewellery Quarter offers a<br />
splendid range of workshops<br />
and lessons on the first<br />
Saturday and Sunday of<br />
the festival. Many of them<br />
are geared <strong>to</strong> beginners,<br />
whether on guitar, drums or<br />
vocals, and the lower age<br />
limit for guitar and drums<br />
is as young as nine. The<br />
classes are free, but with a<br />
limit of eight participants, so<br />
booking is essential.<br />
Email<br />
adam@birminghammusicschool.co.uk<br />
BLUES ENGINE<br />
Blues Engine was formed<br />
in London in September<br />
2013, and played their<br />
debut gig at Ronnie Scott's<br />
bar on 30 January 2014.<br />
The band consists of Katya<br />
Chernyakova (vocals), Alex<br />
Cooray (guitar), Alex Liutai<br />
(bass) and Ovais (drums).<br />
CBD Food Festival<br />
The Colmore Business District’s Food Festival returns <strong>to</strong> Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Square for the fifth year<br />
on Friday and Saturday <strong>July</strong> 3-4. Throughout the two-day event food fanatics can enjoy<br />
mouth-watering £3 dishes from the District’s <strong>to</strong>p eateries and demonstrations from some of<br />
the city’s finest chefs alongside live music from the Jazz and Blues Festival. For more details<br />
visit www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com<br />
Brian Dee<br />
There’s probably no-one in<br />
the pantheon of British Jazz<br />
musicians who hasn’t had<br />
the pleasure of playing with<br />
the impeccable Brian Dee.<br />
He featured in the Tubby<br />
Hayes Quartet, the Best<br />
Of British band and The<br />
Ted Heath orchestra, was<br />
musical direc<strong>to</strong>r for Elaine<br />
Delmar for many a year and<br />
has been an ever-present<br />
in the British Jazz Awards<br />
listings for more than two<br />
decades. Internationally<br />
recognised for his skill in<br />
accompanying singers,<br />
Brian is a fixture in the Lady<br />
Sings the Blues band and<br />
also figures in this festival’s<br />
Number 1 rhythm section.<br />
BROOKS WILLIAMS<br />
(U.S.A.)<br />
Ranked one of the Top<br />
100 Acoustic Guitarists,<br />
singer-songwriter Brooks<br />
Williams writes grooveladen<br />
songs and delivers<br />
them with an easy-going<br />
vocal style and monstrous<br />
guitar chops. Walking the<br />
line between blues and<br />
Americana, Williams has<br />
worked stages worldwide for<br />
over 25 years, amassing a<br />
staggering back-catalogue<br />
of songs, recordings and<br />
tales. With nearly 20 CDs<br />
<strong>to</strong> his name – and more on<br />
the way – this Statesboro,<br />
Georgia, native is, according<br />
<strong>to</strong> americanaUK, ‘impossible<br />
not <strong>to</strong> like’, as Birmingham<br />
audiences have found<br />
on his previous popular<br />
appearances.<br />
The Broombusters<br />
The Broombusters deliver a<br />
unique fusion of blues and<br />
reggae, rhythmic reggae<br />
basslines matched with gritty<br />
blues chords <strong>to</strong> create an<br />
original sound. The band<br />
takes influences from Bob<br />
Dylan, Elmore James, Jimi<br />
Hendrix and Muddy Waters,<br />
combined with reggae<br />
and good old-fashioned<br />
rock’n’roll. Leading the<br />
five-piece Broombusters<br />
is the charismatic Charlie<br />
‘Wolfman’ Sylvester from<br />
the late 1970s disco soul<br />
band the J.A.L.N. Band<br />
which <strong>to</strong>ured Europe for<br />
over 25 years, making many<br />
appearances on Top of the<br />
Pops.<br />
BROTHERS GROOVE<br />
Brothers Groove are making<br />
an impact on the UK blues<br />
scene, with their debut<br />
album Play the Game<br />
released in January 2014.<br />
The name could not be<br />
more appropriate for Shaun<br />
Hill (vocals and guitar), Nige<br />
Mellor (guitar) and Deano<br />
Bass (bass guitar) as these<br />
three fine instrumentalists<br />
have a brother-like friendship<br />
along with their fantastic<br />
musicianship.<br />
Bruce Adams<br />
First choice for many an allstar<br />
band, trumpeter Bruce<br />
Adams has often been heard<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Bruce Adams<br />
at many of the UK’s leading<br />
jazz festivals. Over the<br />
years, Bruce’s popularity has<br />
depended on his inspired<br />
and dynamic quartet and<br />
quintet gigs, reinforcing his<br />
reputation as one of the<br />
most exciting jazz trumpeters<br />
in the country. His<br />
remarkable technique and<br />
Buck, Basie and<br />
The Blues<br />
The art and pho<strong>to</strong>graphy<br />
gallery of Havill &<br />
Travis in Harborne is<br />
displaying some of<br />
Festival Direc<strong>to</strong>r (and<br />
one-time pho<strong>to</strong>grapher)<br />
Jim Simpson’s copious<br />
archive of jazz and blues<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphs from the<br />
1960s under the name<br />
Buck, Basie and The<br />
Blues. Prints are also<br />
available for sale, framed<br />
or unframed.<br />
www.havillandtravis.com<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
bravura playing have earned<br />
him numerous British Jazz<br />
Awards, either for Trumpet or<br />
(with Alan Barnes) for Small<br />
Group and New CD.<br />
THE CATFISH KINGS<br />
The Catfish Kings have ‘fifties<br />
music’ written through them<br />
like a stick of Brigh<strong>to</strong>n Rock.<br />
Take some New Orleans<br />
r&b in the manner of Little<br />
Richard and Fats Domino,<br />
mix with the boogie beat of<br />
Big Joe Turner and Tommy<br />
Brown, and then blend in the<br />
best of Louis Jordan, Chuck<br />
Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis<br />
- and you have the perfect<br />
cocktail for an evening of<br />
smash hit dance music.<br />
Chase Jazzmen<br />
This highly popular and<br />
talented band, based in<br />
the West Midlands and<br />
Shropshire, is composed<br />
of leading musicians in<br />
their field each of whom<br />
has a long standing his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
of playing traditional and<br />
popular jazz, plus numbers<br />
from the swing era including<br />
Sinatra compositions.<br />
With a high standard of<br />
musicianship and a <strong>to</strong>uch of<br />
humour the band provides<br />
first class entertainment.<br />
C-Jam<br />
C-JAM’s reper<strong>to</strong>ire is<br />
large and varied, ranging<br />
from cool jazz sounds<br />
<strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>mping blues/R&B<br />
and soul favourites. The<br />
experienced line-up includes<br />
three ex-members of the<br />
Steve Gibbons Band: Brian<br />
Badhams (keyboards and<br />
vocals), Bob Wilson (lead<br />
guitar/vocals) and drummer<br />
Brendan Day. Bassist Frank<br />
Walker’s colourful music<br />
career includes working with<br />
Glenn Tip<strong>to</strong>n in the Flying<br />
Hat Band and appearing with<br />
Alvin Stardust, whilst saxist<br />
Sam Rogers first came <strong>to</strong><br />
notice with the Walsall Jazz<br />
Orchestra.<br />
CHICK WREN’S ROLLIN’<br />
RIVER BAND<br />
Chick Webb has shared<br />
the bill in the past with the<br />
likes of Maria Muldaur, Kim<br />
Wilson and The Fabulous<br />
Thunderbirds, has performed<br />
live on BBC Radio and at<br />
The Fete De Humanite,<br />
Paris and was a regular<br />
LE MONDE<br />
Le Monde Bar and Restaurant on Brindleyplace will be offering the special Festival beer,<br />
<strong>Billie</strong>’s Brew, as well as hosting events in and around the Festival, including the appearances<br />
of the appropriately Gallic Florence Joelle and Sarah Lenka.<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
GOSPEL OAK<br />
RECORDING<br />
STUDIO<br />
The Festival is very grateful<br />
for the support given by<br />
Gospel Oak Recording<br />
Studio, a commercial<br />
recording facility<br />
picturesquely sited in the<br />
Warwickshire countryside.<br />
www.gospeloakstudio.net<br />
performer at Ronnie Scotts,<br />
Birmingham. Chick is the<br />
composer and arranger of<br />
the band’s material. The<br />
band’s exciting style can be<br />
heard on a new and wellreceived<br />
album, Hoodoo<br />
River.<br />
Chinese Jitterbug<br />
Squad<br />
One of the hits of<br />
Birmingham 2012 and 2013<br />
was the troupe of Chinese<br />
jitterbug dancers who<br />
strutted their stuff with some<br />
of the jollier festival bands,<br />
including for The Queen and<br />
Prince Philip on their royal<br />
visit <strong>to</strong> Birmingham. They’re<br />
back this year! Look out for<br />
the unexpected delights of<br />
unscheduled appearances<br />
across the festival from the<br />
Jitterbug Squad.<br />
Dale S<strong>to</strong>rr<br />
'If there is a better New<br />
Orleans-style pianist in the<br />
UK than the outrageously<br />
talented Dale S<strong>to</strong>rr, please<br />
point me in his or her<br />
direction because he or she<br />
must be very, very special.'<br />
- Lionel Ross, Blues in Britain<br />
The evocative music of New<br />
Orleans is a passion for Dale<br />
S<strong>to</strong>rr who has immersed<br />
himself in the styles of<br />
such heroes as Professor<br />
Longhair, Dr.John, Allen<br />
Toussaint, Tuts Washing<strong>to</strong>n<br />
and James Booker. The<br />
last named performer<br />
became a particular source<br />
of inspiration. Dale is<br />
currently promoting his new<br />
solo album New Orleans<br />
Piano:LIVE, musically<br />
diverse, but all rooted in New<br />
Orleans rhythm n’ blues.<br />
Dave Gelly<br />
Smitten by jazz at an<br />
early age, Gelly <strong>to</strong>ok up<br />
the clarinet at 14 and the<br />
saxophone a few years later.<br />
He played in, and eventually<br />
led, the award-winning<br />
Cambridge University band,<br />
whose personnel included,<br />
among others, Art Themen<br />
and Lionel Grigson.<br />
Alongside his reputation<br />
as a fine jazz tenor saxist,<br />
Chinese Jitterbug Squad<br />
Dave has built a career as<br />
an award-winning jazz writer,<br />
both as a journalist (currently<br />
with The Observer) and as<br />
the author of several wellreceived<br />
books, including<br />
biographies of tenor sax<br />
greats Stan Getz and Lester<br />
Young and his most recent<br />
publication, An Unholy Row,<br />
dealing with post-war British<br />
jazz and its audience.<br />
Derek Nash<br />
Multi-award winning<br />
musician, Derek Nash, is<br />
one of the most in-demand<br />
saxophonists in the UK. He<br />
has been a member of the<br />
Jools Holland Rhythm and<br />
Blues Orchestra since 2004,<br />
has led the award-winning<br />
Sax Appeal for over thirty<br />
years and also fronts the<br />
funk/fusion band Protect<br />
the Beat. With his acoustic<br />
quartet, featuring Dave<br />
New<strong>to</strong>n on piano, he was<br />
awarded the British Jazz<br />
Award for Best CD in 2012<br />
for Joyriding.<br />
DIGBY FAIRWEATHER<br />
Digby Fairweather has<br />
been a professional jazz<br />
38 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 39
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
musician for 38 years. Since<br />
l995 he has led his awardwinning<br />
Half-Dozen and is<br />
currently celebrating the<br />
band’s 20th anniversary<br />
with a major <strong>to</strong>ur and a CD<br />
highlighting The Best of the<br />
Half Dozen. The Half Dozen<br />
<strong>to</strong>ured and recorded with<br />
legendary singer George<br />
Melly (2003-7) and has<br />
since frequently performed<br />
with Paul Jones. Digby<br />
founded the Association<br />
PMT<br />
PMT, suppliers of<br />
equipment <strong>to</strong> the Festival,<br />
is the biggest and<br />
best guitar showroom<br />
in Birmingham. It can<br />
be found on Lawley<br />
Middleway (phone 0121<br />
359 5056) or on line at<br />
www.pm<strong>to</strong>nline.co.uk/<br />
birmingham.html.<br />
of British Jazz Musicians<br />
(l987) and National Jazz<br />
Archive (l987) and broadcast<br />
widely on jazz for the BBC<br />
and Jazz FM (l986-1998)<br />
before returning <strong>to</strong> fulltime<br />
playing in l998. In 2013 he<br />
received the Worshipful<br />
Company of Musicians’<br />
Lifetime Achievement Award<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
Ella<br />
Squirrell<br />
for jazz. His au<strong>to</strong>biography,<br />
Notes from a Jazz Life, has<br />
recently been re-published<br />
in an enlarged version by<br />
Northway Books.<br />
DIGBY FAIRWEATHER’S<br />
HALF DOZEN<br />
As Digby leads the band<br />
in<strong>to</strong> their third decade,<br />
the personnel still shows<br />
remarkably few changes.<br />
Al Swainger on bass is<br />
the most recent recruit<br />
<strong>to</strong> a line-up which has<br />
become increasingly and<br />
impressively familiar: Chris<br />
Gower (trombone), Julian<br />
Marc Stringle (reeds), Craig<br />
Milver<strong>to</strong>n (piano), Dominic<br />
Ashworth (guitar) and Nick<br />
Millward (drums) - one<br />
above the half dozen, as all<br />
mathematicians will have<br />
realised!<br />
ELLA SQUIRRELL<br />
Ella Squirrell grew up<br />
surrounded by creativity in<br />
the beautiful <strong>to</strong>wn of Bridport<br />
in Dorset. She has always<br />
Digby Fairweather<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Saxitude [Luxembourg]<br />
Sunday 5th <strong>July</strong>, 7.30PM<br />
Malaya Blue<br />
Monday 6th <strong>July</strong>, 7.30PM<br />
Pete York’s Big Five<br />
Tuesday <strong>7th</strong> <strong>July</strong>, 7.30PM<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance<br />
[USA/Australia]<br />
Wednesday 8th <strong>July</strong>, 7.30PM<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
de Paris [France]<br />
Sunday 12th <strong>July</strong>, 7.30PM<br />
BARBECUE EVERY NIGHT • OUTSIDE BAR<br />
BEER FESTIVAL RUNS THROUGHOUT<br />
34 GREAT HAMPTON ST, HOCKLEY, B18 6AA<br />
TEL: 0121 5237515 • EMAIL THECLIFDEN@BTCONNECT.COM<br />
felt at one with the natural<br />
world, returning <strong>to</strong> nature<br />
as a comfort in her songwriting.<br />
Her move <strong>to</strong> London<br />
was a big transition, but she<br />
has found it <strong>to</strong> be the best<br />
base for music.<br />
Ella picked up her first<br />
instrument aged 10. She<br />
copied folk songs on an Irish<br />
penny whistle, before moving<br />
on <strong>to</strong> the guitar when she<br />
was 11. She recalls writing<br />
Florence Joelle<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
her first successful song<br />
aged 15. Song-writing is a<br />
cathartic process for Ella.<br />
She sees it as the best outlet<br />
for strong emotions, whether<br />
she is feeling down or feeling<br />
really happy. Allowing herself<br />
<strong>to</strong> be honest in her songwriting<br />
is the key <strong>to</strong> her<br />
creativity. She has followed<br />
in the footsteps of her folk<br />
musician father, but with a<br />
modern pop twist.<br />
Eureka Jazz<br />
Eureka Jazz, from Moseley<br />
Birmingham, plays happy<br />
and harmonious 1920s<br />
and 30s melodies based<br />
on the Great American<br />
Songbook. Terry McGrath on<br />
trombone and saxes leads<br />
the band in sweet vintage<br />
music, from such as Cole<br />
Porter, Gershwin and Hoagy<br />
Carmichael.<br />
FLORENCE JOELLE<br />
(France)<br />
Bred on jazz at home and<br />
the street music of Paris,<br />
the Gypsy art of Django<br />
Reinhardt, bal musette, and<br />
North African rai, singer,<br />
songwriter, blues harmonica<br />
player Florence Joelle<br />
started collecting rock’n’roll,<br />
doo-wop, Latin jazz, and<br />
early blues as a girl. Her<br />
music draws from all these<br />
influences, carving out a<br />
GRAND HOTEL<br />
The renovation of Birmingham’s splendid Grand Hotel is more than welcome, with the front<br />
exterior unveiled by Festival time, and we are very grateful for the Grand’s financial support<br />
for the Chinese Jitterbug Squad. The Grand can lay claim <strong>to</strong> having been (and, hopefully,<br />
being in the future) one of this country’s great jazz venues.<br />
Since 1986 the Grand Hotel has hosted over 50 Jazz Festival events, many of them multiband<br />
extravaganzas or all-star jam sessions, most in the elegant Grosvenor Suite. In 1992<br />
alone the hotel hosted American stars Bill Berry, Mose Allison, Marty Grosz, Plas Johnson<br />
and a unique appearance by the great Illinois Jacquet Big Band, plus innumerable <strong>to</strong>p<br />
British acts, including the Humphrey Lyttel<strong>to</strong>n Band and – both regulars at the Grand –<br />
George Melly with John Chil<strong>to</strong>n’s Feetwarmers and King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.<br />
In 1993 and 1994 a composite list of musicians in the jam sessions included American<br />
stars such as Dusko Goykovich, Herb Geller, Peter Deluke, Ray Alexander, Howard<br />
McCrary, Byron Stripling, Benny Bailey, Hal ‘Cornbread’ Singer, Charles McPherson and<br />
David Glasser alongside British players of the calibre of Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams.<br />
Appropriately enough, the last time (for now) that the Grosvenor Suite was used in the<br />
Festival was <strong>to</strong> host local favourites King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys in 2002.<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
unique sound that, although<br />
deeply rooted in the past,<br />
vibrates in the present.<br />
GUITAR SUPERJAM<br />
Guitar Superjam at the<br />
Electric Cinema on <strong>July</strong> 8<br />
is an informal session of<br />
conversations about jazz<br />
guitar and performance<br />
and improvisation by three<br />
acknowledged experts in the<br />
field, sharing their knowledge<br />
and expertise in words and<br />
music and introducing the<br />
music of the great guitar<br />
stylists. Joining Remi Harris<br />
(featured at the festival<br />
on the previous day) are<br />
celebrated musicians and<br />
teachers Adrian Ingram and<br />
Lee Jones.<br />
Guitar Superjam is followed<br />
by a showing of Woody<br />
Allen's acclaimed 1999<br />
film, Sweet and Lowdown,<br />
starring Sean Penn as a<br />
jazz guitarist. The music has<br />
impeccable jazz credentials,<br />
composed and arranged by<br />
Harpers<br />
Ferry<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Kate Gavaletz<br />
Hot Jazz Alliance<br />
Dick Hyman, guitar solos by<br />
Howard Alden, other guitar<br />
work by Bucky Pizzarelli and<br />
James Chirillo.<br />
HARPERS FERRY (UK/<br />
USA/NEW ZEALAND)<br />
Harpers Ferry is a thoroughly<br />
modern folk-rock band<br />
based in Gloucestershire,<br />
UK. With a vocalist from the<br />
USA and a guitarist from<br />
New Zealand, this band has<br />
pulled <strong>to</strong>gether a wide range<br />
of influences that creates a<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ry-telling approach, similar<br />
<strong>to</strong> that which was prevalent<br />
in the song writing of the<br />
late 60s/early 70s. Every<br />
song has been crafted and<br />
arranged with this ethos in<br />
mind.<br />
HOT JAZZ ALLIANCE<br />
(USA/Australia)<br />
The Hot Jazz Alliance is truly<br />
an all-star band. Made up of<br />
leading lights from the worldwide<br />
traditional jazz network,<br />
they also boast a deep<br />
rapport and high level of<br />
musical consistency born of<br />
their two recent (and lengthy)<br />
Australia-wide <strong>to</strong>urs. Young<br />
American jazz stars Andy<br />
Schumm and Josh Duffee<br />
join Australians Michael<br />
McQuaid, Jason Downes,<br />
Leigh Barker and John<br />
Scurry in an unparallelled<br />
diplomatic jazz coup. What<br />
sets the band apart is their<br />
energy – performing the<br />
most authentic 1920s era<br />
music, but with a unique joy,<br />
freshness and vitality. The<br />
HJA present music inspired<br />
by Bix Beiderbecke, the<br />
New Orleans Rhythm Kings,<br />
Johnny Dodds, the Austin<br />
High School Gang and Louis<br />
Armstrong’s Hot Seven,<br />
but what the audience<br />
experiences is far from a<br />
carefully handled museum<br />
piece. This is the real thing –<br />
dynamic hot jazz with all the<br />
vigour of youthful abandon.<br />
JAKE LEG JUG BAND<br />
The Jake Leg Jug Band<br />
bring you the authentic<br />
sounds of 1920's and<br />
30's America - jazz, blues,<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
gospel, ragtime - and put<br />
their own twist on it. Quickly<br />
gaining a reputation as<br />
a lively, feel-good band,<br />
their performance at the<br />
Congle<strong>to</strong>n Jazz & Blues<br />
Festival drew the comment:<br />
"Their image, style and<br />
performance was wonderful<br />
and you really did buy in<strong>to</strong><br />
the prohibition era feel<br />
of their set....wonderful<br />
sounds!"<br />
The Jake Leg Jug Band<br />
recently released Everythin's<br />
Jake on Lake Records, their<br />
third album in three years.<br />
JAZZ SALON ROUGE FOUR<br />
Jazz Salon Rouge is a band<br />
of long established jazzers<br />
who been entertaining in the<br />
Midlands and beyond since<br />
1974. In quartet format<br />
the band features trumpet,<br />
clarinet, banjo and bass/<br />
sousaphone, playing musical<br />
treats from the New Orleans,<br />
classical and traditional<br />
reper<strong>to</strong>ire and a selection of<br />
Dixieland and Duke Elling<strong>to</strong>n<br />
favourites. Current band<br />
members come from a rich<br />
heritage of British traditional<br />
jazz including Acker Bilk’s<br />
first Paramount Jazz Band,<br />
Bob Wallis’s S<strong>to</strong>ryville<br />
Jazzmen, the Birmingham<br />
based Eagle Jazz Band and<br />
the Jim Shelley Frisco Band.<br />
JERRY SENFLUK (Czech<br />
Republic)<br />
Born St. Patrick's Day, 1946,<br />
in Prague, Bohemia, Jerry<br />
Senfluk received private<br />
tuition from the principal<br />
clarinettist of the Czech<br />
Philharmonic Orchestra, a<br />
virtuoso performer and great<br />
admirer of Benny Goodman.<br />
He graduated from the<br />
Conserva<strong>to</strong>ire of Prague<br />
in 1967, having made his<br />
first public appearance on<br />
clarinet in 1962, playing<br />
alongside Acker Bilk.<br />
Highly regarded throughout<br />
Europe as a distinctive and<br />
technically accomplished<br />
player in the great tradition,<br />
Jerry ran a very successful<br />
band, Capital Swing, in<br />
London and is now based in<br />
Bavaria.<br />
JOHN HEMMING AND THE<br />
JAZZ LOBBYISTS WITH<br />
LORRAINE DONOVAN<br />
John Hemming and the<br />
Sisters of Jazz played for<br />
MPs, peers, and the national<br />
and regional media at their<br />
debut gig at the Liberal<br />
Democrat Conference and<br />
have made an impact at the<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Val Wiseman<br />
Birmingham Jazz and Blues<br />
Festival in recent years. Now<br />
the former MP and talented<br />
jazz pianist brings a new<br />
band <strong>to</strong> the festival.<br />
JOHN PATRICK<br />
John Patrick’s piano<br />
playing has graced the<br />
performances of many<br />
American stars both in the<br />
USA and the UK since the<br />
1960s. For many years John<br />
fronted his own Big Band,<br />
but he is at his best in a<br />
small group playing hardswinging<br />
modern jazz.<br />
KING PLEASURE & THE<br />
BISCUIT BOYS<br />
‘To those who say that<br />
Swing is a musical form best<br />
left <strong>to</strong> Americans, prepare<br />
<strong>to</strong> be proven wrong. This<br />
British combo is bulletproof!’<br />
- A<strong>to</strong>mic Magazine, New<br />
York City<br />
The all-time festival<br />
favourites at Birmingham,<br />
King Pleasure and the<br />
Biscuit Boys make it a<br />
regular s<strong>to</strong>pping point on<br />
the international round of<br />
jazz and blues festivals.<br />
The band’s driving force<br />
since its inception way back<br />
when, King Pleasure is one<br />
of the great jazz and swing<br />
performers. His ebullient,<br />
joyful singing has long been<br />
the band’s great trademark,<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
his fine tenor and bari<strong>to</strong>ne<br />
playing an integral part of<br />
that roaring King Pleasure &<br />
The Biscuit Boys ensemble<br />
sound that is guaranteed<br />
<strong>to</strong> swing anyone in<strong>to</strong> bad<br />
health.<br />
Lady Sings The Blues<br />
Inevitably headlining<br />
the festival’s <strong>Holiday</strong> in<br />
Birmingham commemoration<br />
of the centenary of the great<br />
<strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>, Val Wiseman’s<br />
acclaimed Lady Sings the<br />
Blues show has been the<br />
foremost British tribute <strong>to</strong><br />
Lady Day for nearly three<br />
decades - Val has now<br />
been singing <strong>Billie</strong>’s songs<br />
for longer than <strong>Billie</strong> herself!<br />
For sheer excellence of<br />
vocal and instrumental<br />
interpretation, without gossip<br />
or speculation or an excess<br />
of biography, Val and a<br />
succession of <strong>to</strong>p musicians<br />
have been the gold standard<br />
of <strong>Holiday</strong> tributes. Over the<br />
years many of the <strong>to</strong>p British<br />
jazz musicians have lined up<br />
in the all-star Lady Sings the<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
Blues band, <strong>to</strong>gether with<br />
the occasional American<br />
star such as Mundell Lowe.<br />
For Birmingham 2015 the<br />
band consists of three of the<br />
original LSTB band, Digby<br />
Fairweather (trumpet), Roy<br />
Williams (trombone) and Len<br />
Skeat (bass), <strong>to</strong>gether with<br />
Julian Marc Stringle (reeds),<br />
Brian Dee (piano) and Eric<br />
Ford (drums).<br />
LEN SKEAT<br />
An immaculate bass player<br />
known as ‘The Time Lord’,<br />
Len Skeat has had a<br />
remarkable career dating<br />
back over 50 years. After<br />
working with Ted Heath’s<br />
Orchestra and the Stephane<br />
Grappelli Trio among many<br />
other bands, he became<br />
much in demand with visiting<br />
American stars and is well<br />
known as Peggy Lee’s<br />
favourite bass player for her<br />
UK <strong>to</strong>urs. From the acoustic<br />
co-operative quartet Velvet<br />
<strong>to</strong> working with the likes of<br />
Ben Webster via innumerable<br />
British Jazz Awards, Len<br />
has seen and done it all. An<br />
original member of the Lady<br />
Sings the Blues band and<br />
still a key member, he will<br />
also be heard this year as a<br />
member of an outstanding<br />
accompanying trio.<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers de<br />
Paris [France]<br />
Les Zau<strong>to</strong> S<strong>to</strong>mpers are<br />
an accomplished and<br />
entertaining five-piece from<br />
Paris, the stars of festivals<br />
Malaya Blue<br />
throughout Europe and<br />
a perennial favourite in<br />
Birmingham. Their reper<strong>to</strong>ire<br />
takes you back <strong>to</strong> the<br />
honky<strong>to</strong>nks of New Orleans<br />
and the cabarets of Chicago<br />
and New York. Virtuoso<br />
cornetist Gilles Naudet<br />
brings <strong>to</strong> life the classics of<br />
Louis Armstrong and the<br />
S<strong>to</strong>mpers also favour the<br />
music of Bix Beiderbecke,<br />
Jelly Roll Mor<strong>to</strong>n, Joe ‘King’<br />
Oliver, Fats Waller, Hoagy<br />
Carmichael, Duke Elling<strong>to</strong>n<br />
and many other greats of<br />
jazz.<br />
Little Jo & the Misfits<br />
Little Jo & the Misfits are<br />
a six piece band from<br />
Runcorn. They are quickly<br />
gaining a reputation for<br />
themselves as the band <strong>to</strong><br />
have at festivals and venues,<br />
as they bring a fresh sound<br />
and variety of material rarely<br />
seen in the UK <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
Formed in early 2012,<br />
Little Jo & the Misfits draw<br />
influence from a wide<br />
spectrum of artists such as<br />
Louis Jordan. Imelda May,<br />
Little Walter. T Bone Walker<br />
and <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong>… it’s a<br />
long list.<br />
We would like <strong>to</strong> thank<br />
THE LITHUANIAN EMBASSY<br />
and<br />
MUSIC EXPORT LITHUANIA<br />
for enabling the Festival <strong>to</strong> present the <strong>to</strong>p swing band,<br />
THE SCHWINGS,with star singer<br />
LAURA BUDRECKYTE,<br />
48 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 49
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Little Jo &<br />
The Misfits<br />
Pepper and the Jellies<br />
Pete York<br />
in Birmingham for the Gene<br />
Krupa tribute, Drummin’<br />
Man. Now successfully<br />
based in Munich, Pete<br />
returns <strong>to</strong> Birmingham <strong>to</strong><br />
form part of the festival’s<br />
Number 1 rhythm section<br />
and team up with old friends<br />
as PETE YORK’S BIG<br />
FIVE, in addition <strong>to</strong> joining<br />
Tipitina’s Debbie Jones and<br />
Justin Randall for a one-off<br />
performance.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin<br />
Daleman<br />
MALAYA BLUE<br />
Malaya Blue has been<br />
causing heads <strong>to</strong> turn and<br />
jaws <strong>to</strong> drop on the British<br />
Blues circuit since the<br />
release of her stunning debut<br />
album Bourbon Street midway<br />
through 2014. With very<br />
little PR hype or support it<br />
quickly reached No1 on the<br />
British Independent Blues<br />
Broadcasters chart, causing<br />
a flurry of media interest<br />
and resulting in being voted<br />
in<strong>to</strong> 2nd place in the Blues<br />
Matters Writers Poll as Best<br />
Newcomer. It is highly likely<br />
that Malaya Blue will be<br />
the big breakthrough act of<br />
2015.<br />
MATT PALMER’S<br />
MILLENNIUM EAGLE JAZZ<br />
BAND<br />
The Midlands-based<br />
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band<br />
emerged as a direct result<br />
of the demise in 2005 of<br />
the very popular Eagle Jazz<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
Band, formed by Ken Ingram<br />
and Bob Smith in 1951.<br />
Matt Palmer had recently<br />
folded his Millennium Jazz<br />
Band <strong>to</strong> join the Eagles, so<br />
it was thought appropriate<br />
<strong>to</strong> include ‘Millennium’ in<br />
the name of the new band.<br />
The band’s wide reper<strong>to</strong>ire<br />
includes popular songs and<br />
classic jazz compositions<br />
of the 1920s, 1930s and<br />
1940s.<br />
MYJO<br />
MYJO, directed by John<br />
Ruddick MBE, has been<br />
described as one of the<br />
world’s <strong>to</strong>p young jazz<br />
orchestras. It was unbeaten<br />
in the BBC National Big<br />
Band Competition for twenty<br />
years. It has also twice won<br />
the Dutch National Big Band<br />
Competition, and in addition<br />
has been awarded a citation<br />
for Outstanding Services<br />
<strong>to</strong> Jazz Education, at the<br />
International Association<br />
Jazz Educa<strong>to</strong>rs Conference,<br />
in Miami, and in Toron<strong>to</strong>.<br />
Guests over the years<br />
include the great Benny<br />
Carter, Bob Florence, Rob<br />
McConnell, Arturo Sandoval,<br />
Georgie Fame, Clare Teal,<br />
Elaine Delmar, Jeff Hooper<br />
and Lee Gibson, and Jacqui<br />
Dankworth. In the last couple<br />
of years MYJO has featured<br />
in a big-band double header<br />
with the BBC Big Band for<br />
Radio 2 and performed with<br />
Grammy award–winner,<br />
Gordon Goodwin and<br />
his two colleagues Eric<br />
Marienthal, and Wayne<br />
Bergeron.<br />
OLD COMRADES JAZZ<br />
BAND<br />
The forerunner of the Old<br />
Comrades was a band that<br />
trombonist Eric Dodgson<br />
started in 1995 called the<br />
Trent Valley S<strong>to</strong>mpers of<br />
which he and banjoist Stan<br />
Owen are the two remaining<br />
regular members of the<br />
Old Comrades. The band<br />
was formed because seven<br />
enthusiasts were prepared<br />
<strong>to</strong> play for nothing, learn<br />
interesting lively numbers,<br />
in order <strong>to</strong> get away from<br />
playing hackneyed tunes.<br />
PEPPER AND THE JELLIES<br />
(Italy)<br />
One of the great successes<br />
of Birmingham 2014,<br />
Pepper and the Jellies are<br />
a four-piece band formed<br />
in 2013, headed by singer<br />
Ilenia Appicciafuoco and<br />
completed by Marco<br />
Galiffa (guitar), Emiliani<br />
Macrini (double bass) and<br />
Andrea Galiffa (snare and<br />
woodblocks). The band aims<br />
<strong>to</strong> re-create the atmosphere<br />
of the 1920s and 30s jazz<br />
era and <strong>to</strong> evoke the voices<br />
and songs of great jazz and<br />
blues singers ranging from<br />
Bessie Smith <strong>to</strong> Annette<br />
Hanshaw, from Ma Rainey <strong>to</strong><br />
Ruth Etting. This year Pepper<br />
and the Jellies have played<br />
the Open Jazz Festival<br />
KotCertino in Belgium and<br />
<strong>July</strong> brings dates at Pozzuoli<br />
Jazz Festival and Jazz Tage<br />
as well as an eagerly awaited<br />
return <strong>to</strong> Birmingham.<br />
PETE YORK<br />
Pete York has been a<br />
legend of the Birmingham<br />
music scene since his days<br />
as the drummer with the<br />
great Spencer Davis Group.<br />
He went on <strong>to</strong> work with<br />
many of the <strong>to</strong>p names<br />
in rock and blues, at one<br />
time being a member of<br />
Eric Clap<strong>to</strong>n’s Powerhouse<br />
alongside Paul Jones, Jack<br />
Bruce and Steve Winwood,<br />
his former colleague with<br />
the Spencer Davis Group.<br />
On the jazz front he was<br />
a member of the Chris<br />
Barber Jazz and Blues<br />
Band and is remembered<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT<br />
The Pho<strong>to</strong>graphy Project<br />
is an opportunity for<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphers of all levels<br />
of experience <strong>to</strong> work with<br />
an expert and evaluate their<br />
work. 'On Monday <strong>July</strong> 6<br />
in a Pho<strong>to</strong>graphic Seminar<br />
at the Hamp<strong>to</strong>n by Hil<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Hotel pho<strong>to</strong>grapher-atlarge<br />
Merlin Daleman will<br />
talk about the work of a<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>grapher <strong>to</strong>day, in terms<br />
of composition, technique<br />
and the pressures of the<br />
subjects, finishing by setting<br />
a pho<strong>to</strong>graphic theme for<br />
those attending. It's an<br />
opportunity <strong>to</strong> bring along<br />
your pho<strong>to</strong>graphs for an<br />
award-winning pho<strong>to</strong>grapher<br />
<strong>to</strong> assess, enjoy the praise<br />
and encouragement and<br />
learn from his comments and<br />
suggestions!<br />
POP-UP DANCEHALL<br />
The place <strong>to</strong> go for dance<br />
lessons and social dancing<br />
on the first Saturday of<br />
the Festival is the Pop-up<br />
Dancehall on Regency Wharf<br />
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ARTISTS A-Z<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
where for one afternoon only<br />
dance takes centre stage<br />
<strong>to</strong> the music of The Catfish<br />
Kings and Sticky Wicket’s<br />
Hepcats.<br />
Rebecca Downes Band<br />
Rebecca Downes is fast<br />
establishing herself as one of<br />
the star attractions amongst<br />
the new vanguard of blues<br />
performers in the UK, with<br />
her unique and powerful<br />
Rebecca<br />
Downes<br />
Remi Harris<br />
voice, drawing influences<br />
ranging from blues and soul<br />
<strong>to</strong> jazz and rock. Rebecca’s<br />
voice and performances<br />
have been, quite rightly,<br />
likened <strong>to</strong> such legendary<br />
artists as the full on Tina<br />
Turner, the bluesy feel of Etta<br />
James, and the raw power of<br />
Janis Joplin.<br />
REMI HARRIS TRIO<br />
“At twenty five Harris is now<br />
acknowledged as one of the<br />
finest gypsy jazz guitarists in<br />
the country.” - The Jazz Man<br />
Remi has played the guitar<br />
since he was six, formed<br />
his first rock band at 12,<br />
quit at 15 <strong>to</strong> learn <strong>to</strong> play<br />
jazz guitar properly. His trio<br />
play gypsy jazz like no one<br />
else. Their style is looser,<br />
swings differently <strong>to</strong> the<br />
traditional Reinhardt stylists<br />
and is clearly influenced<br />
by Remi’s fascination with<br />
Wes Montgomery. Remi’s<br />
debut album Ninick on Big<br />
Bear Records, widely 5<br />
Star reviewed and critically<br />
acclaimed, is riding high in<br />
the Amazon Jazz and iTunes<br />
charts and has been featured<br />
on radio by the likes of Jamie<br />
Cullum and Cerys Matthews.<br />
‘… a recorded debut which<br />
places Remi Harris securely<br />
in the front line of the world’s<br />
finest jazz guitarists.” - The<br />
Jazz Rag<br />
Ricky Cool & The In<br />
Crowd<br />
Ricky first hit the headlines<br />
with The Icebergs, only <strong>to</strong> reform<br />
as The Real<strong>to</strong>s where<br />
he came <strong>to</strong> the attention<br />
of ex-Led Zeppelin star<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
Robert Plant who recruited<br />
him in<strong>to</strong> his Honeydrippers.<br />
Working with The Big Town<br />
Playboys began his longterm<br />
partnership with Andy<br />
Silvester of Savoy Brown<br />
and Chicken Shack. One of<br />
the hottest frontmen in the<br />
business, Ricky moved on<br />
<strong>to</strong> the uns<strong>to</strong>ppable Hoola<br />
Boola Boys who <strong>to</strong>ured<br />
with such greats as the<br />
legendary Jerry Lee Lewis.<br />
Now, with his current line-up,<br />
Ricky Cool & The In Crowd,<br />
Ricky presents a musical<br />
mix of original numbers,<br />
ska, bluebeat, rock ‘n’<br />
roll and rhythm ‘n’ blues,<br />
plus entertainment in the<br />
inimitable Ricky Cool style.<br />
as distant as Milan and St.<br />
Lucia, scoring a big success<br />
at the Limoges Jazz Festival<br />
(‘an exceptional concert’,<br />
according <strong>to</strong> Le Populaire<br />
du Centre). The Birmingham<br />
Mail wrote about Roy’s<br />
performance in the 2011<br />
Jazzfest, ‘Is there a better<br />
male jazz singer in this<br />
country? Probably not. Roy<br />
Forbes is a master of his<br />
trade.’<br />
The Rumblestrutters<br />
The Rumblestrutters are a<br />
four-piece jug band based<br />
in south Wales, playing an<br />
Sarah Lenka<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
irreverent hodgepodge of<br />
Memphis jazz, hokum, blues<br />
and ragtime. The band<br />
quickly established itself<br />
as one of the best roots<br />
bands around. Started in the<br />
summer of 2013 when Jon<br />
Toft (mandolin and vocals)<br />
found an old ink jug in a<br />
back cupboard, the band<br />
also features the virtuoso<br />
guitar playing of Jonathan<br />
Nicholas, Liam Ward<br />
(vocals, jug and harmonica)<br />
and Gregg S<strong>to</strong>ckdale on<br />
washboard, thimbles, cans<br />
and anything that bangs.<br />
Feel-good folk music at its<br />
authentic best!<br />
SARAH LENKA (France)<br />
Sarah Lenka is one of<br />
the most highly regarded<br />
singers on the Paris scene,<br />
<strong>to</strong>uring with the likes of<br />
Taj Mahal and winning the<br />
SACEM award in the New<br />
Voice category in 2007. Her<br />
approach, suitably Gallic, is<br />
<strong>to</strong> sing of ‘extreme aspects<br />
of love seasoned with a<br />
Ricky Cool &<br />
the In Crowd<br />
Roy Forbes<br />
Roy Forbes is known<br />
<strong>to</strong> Birmingham festival<br />
audiences as a dynamic and<br />
exciting singer who has built<br />
a great reputation in the city<br />
over some years as well as<br />
appearing (and recording<br />
at) London’s Jazz Cafe and<br />
the Stables, Wavendon,<br />
and taking in other festivals<br />
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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
We would like <strong>to</strong> thank<br />
MUSIC LX<br />
for supporting the return <strong>to</strong> Birmingham of the excellent<br />
saxophone quartet<br />
SAXITUDE<br />
sense of humour, but also<br />
mystery and sweetness.’<br />
However, much of her<br />
material is less typically<br />
French, drawn from the<br />
likes of Bessie Smith and,<br />
especially, <strong>Billie</strong> <strong>Holiday</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong> whom she is paying<br />
tribute in her Birmingham<br />
performances, her first<br />
appearances in the UK -<br />
except as a backing singer in<br />
her student days.<br />
Sauce City Jazz<br />
Sauce City Jazz is a<br />
traditional Dixieland jazz<br />
band that plays in and<br />
around Worcestershire and<br />
the Midlands. Sauce City<br />
Jazz was formed in 1992 in<br />
Claines, Worcestershire by<br />
a group of friends who got<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> welcome a local<br />
soldier home from the Gulf<br />
War. A fun evening soon<br />
evolved in<strong>to</strong> a six piece jazz<br />
band, now in its 24th year.<br />
Saxitude (Luxembourg)<br />
The band Saxitude is a<br />
saxophone quartet that<br />
was founded in 2003 and<br />
has come up with a unique<br />
sound and equally distinctive<br />
mobile presentation style.<br />
Original compositions of jazz<br />
and improvised music are<br />
included in their reper<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Since 2003 the band has<br />
played concerts in Germany,<br />
Luxembourg, France,<br />
Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech<br />
Republic, Thailand and China<br />
and returns <strong>to</strong> Birmingham<br />
as a decided festival<br />
favourite.<br />
The Schwings with<br />
Laura Budreckyte<br />
(Lithuania)<br />
The Schwings is an<br />
ensemble playing swing,<br />
gypsy and Brazilian jazz.<br />
The instrumental trio<br />
stands out for its authentic,<br />
original sound and its<br />
sincere communication<br />
with the audience. A<br />
pulsating rhythm, unusual<br />
instrument combinations,<br />
artistry, positive and<br />
lively performance - all<br />
these aspects define The<br />
Schwings.<br />
Saxitude<br />
Singer Laura Budreckyte<br />
comes from a cozy Birš<strong>to</strong>nas<br />
resort in the jazz mecca of<br />
Lithuania, home <strong>to</strong> the oldest<br />
Jazz Festival in Lithuania. In<br />
2014 Laura graduated from<br />
the Lithuanian Music and<br />
Theatre Academy with a<br />
master‘s degree in vocal jazz<br />
studies. Also she became<br />
1st place winner and best<br />
free programme performer at<br />
the Jazz Voices competition<br />
in Klaip da (Lithuania, 2012),<br />
and won the Grand Prix at<br />
international Riga Jazz Stage<br />
competition (Latvia, 2013).<br />
Sheila Waterfield<br />
Sheila Waterfield is an<br />
award winning vocalist who<br />
was born and grew up in<br />
England and Ireland. By the<br />
age of 12 she was featured<br />
on Radio Eireann having<br />
won the title of ‘All England<br />
Champion’ in traditional Irish<br />
singing. Sheila was also<br />
part of The Shannon Youth<br />
Ceilidh Band with whom she<br />
regularly sang and played the<br />
Irish whistle.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by<br />
Merlin Daleman<br />
54 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 55
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com<br />
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Simon<br />
Spillett<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by<br />
Merlin<br />
Daleman<br />
SIMON SPILLETT<br />
‘A formidable musician<br />
and composer playing and<br />
writing in an uncompromising<br />
hard bop style.’ – Jazz<br />
Review.<br />
Simon Spillett has<br />
established himself in recent<br />
years as one of the most<br />
distinctive and dynamic tenor<br />
saxophonists around. His<br />
men<strong>to</strong>r was the celebrated<br />
clarinettist and tenor saxist<br />
Vic Ash, but his playing<br />
recalls another star of 1950s<br />
bebop. His driving and<br />
energised style has often<br />
been compared with that<br />
of the late Tubby Hayes<br />
and his approach shares<br />
a similar love of dare-devil<br />
tempos and all-out intensity.<br />
Simon’s already considerable<br />
reputation as a jazz writer<br />
has been enhanced by the<br />
appearance of his biography<br />
of Tubby Hayes, The Long<br />
Shadow of the Little Giant<br />
(Equinox).<br />
MUSIC FOR YOUTH<br />
The co-operation between the Festival and Music for Youth<br />
has several strands, with Music for Youth providing three<br />
performances at the Caffe Nero and, on the other hand,<br />
the Festival arranging for drumming legend, Pete York,<br />
<strong>to</strong> conduct two drumming masterclasses in the Seminar<br />
Room of the Birmingham Conserva<strong>to</strong>ire on <strong>July</strong> 10 as part<br />
of the Music for Youth programme.<br />
STEVE AJAO<br />
Steve Ajao has been a much<br />
respected figure on the<br />
Birmingham music scene for<br />
over 30 years. Starting as a<br />
drummer, he was working<br />
as a blues guitarist in various<br />
bands by his late teens.<br />
Later he reinvented himself<br />
as a bebop saxophonist,<br />
appearing in many London<br />
clubs and memorably<br />
sharing the bandstand with<br />
ex-Charlie Parker trumpeter<br />
Red Rodney, while his<br />
Blues Giants keep alive the<br />
other side of his musical<br />
personality..<br />
STICKY WICKET’S<br />
HEPCATS<br />
Top drummer Sticky Wicket<br />
whose CV takes in (among<br />
many other bands) all three<br />
of the Bs - Barber, Bilk and<br />
Ball -, leads a swinging<br />
four-piece with vocals from<br />
Yolanda Penn.<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
[Sweden]<br />
The band produces romping<br />
hot music that is vivid and<br />
fresh, yet deeply rooted in<br />
the hot jazz of the 20’s. The<br />
energy and s<strong>to</strong>mpy swing<br />
are the most recognizable<br />
Steve Ajao<br />
Sheila<br />
Waterfield<br />
features. The five-piece<br />
instrumentation defines<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers as a<br />
small band but the multiinstrumentalism<br />
of the<br />
musicians makes a lot of<br />
variation possible and the<br />
arrangements make the<br />
band sound bigger than it<br />
is, with all instruments used<br />
in a number of roles and<br />
every tune getting special<br />
treatment.<br />
CAFFE NERO<br />
We are grateful for the<br />
co-operation of Caffe Nero<br />
in acting as a partner <strong>to</strong><br />
the Festival in promoting<br />
its programme of events<br />
in branches of the coffee<br />
chain throughout the<br />
Midlands. Additionally<br />
Caffe Nero in Brindleyplace<br />
will be staging<br />
performances by Harpers<br />
Ferry (4) and Pepper<br />
and the Jellies (11), plus<br />
three events organised by<br />
Music for Youth and such<br />
incidental delights as a<br />
Ukulele Workshop!<br />
MUSICIANS UNION<br />
‘An organisation that can help its members throughout their<br />
professional careers and beyond.’<br />
As always the Festival is extremely grateful for the support,<br />
financial and otherwise, of the Musicians Union.<br />
www.musiciansunion.org.uk<br />
THE SWING ERA<br />
The Solo Jazz Dance<br />
Workshop at the Dark<br />
Horse, Moseley, on the<br />
second Saturday, will be<br />
taken by Katie Sewell who<br />
lived in Madrid for four years<br />
teaching authentic solo<br />
jazz, Lindy hop, balboa and<br />
blues. This is a fun twohour<br />
workshop for all levels,<br />
starting at 11.00 a.m. and<br />
divided in<strong>to</strong> two one-hour<br />
sessions with a lunch break,<br />
finishing at 1.30 p.m. Places<br />
will be limited <strong>to</strong> 25.<br />
TIPITINA<br />
Tipitina – with Debbie Jones’<br />
powerful gospel-tinged<br />
vocals and Justin Randall’s<br />
mighty two-handed piano -<br />
deliver their own unique take<br />
on the blues, barrelhouse,<br />
boogie and gospel of New<br />
Orleans, in the footsteps of<br />
Professor Longhair, Dr. John,<br />
James Booker, Fats Domino<br />
and Allen Toussaint.<br />
Tipitina’s second CD for<br />
Big Bear, Taking Care of<br />
Business, recorded at<br />
2011's Birmingham<br />
International Jazz & Blues<br />
S<strong>to</strong>ckholm S<strong>to</strong>mpers<br />
56 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 57
ARTISTS A-Z www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ARTISTS A-Z<br />
Festival supported by<br />
Colmore BID, was greeted<br />
by uniformly enthusiastic<br />
reviews:<br />
‘A wonderful CD, it superbly<br />
captures how this incredible<br />
band sound au naturelle...<br />
phenomenal. 10/10’ [Blues<br />
In Britain].<br />
‘A joyous ride through uptempo<br />
feel-good rockers,<br />
gospel-tinged ballads and<br />
crowd-pleasing sing-alongs.<br />
They're a barns<strong>to</strong>rming live<br />
act, few do this with such<br />
conviction.’ [Rock 'N' Reel]<br />
Tipitina’s appearance at The<br />
Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n during the festival<br />
is a unique performance,<br />
a one-off appearance of<br />
legendary drummer PETE<br />
Tipitina<br />
YORK with Justin and<br />
Debbie.<br />
VIP RECORD FAIR<br />
The Custard Fac<strong>to</strong>ry Record<br />
Fair is an opportunity <strong>to</strong><br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> by Merlin Daleman<br />
buy and sell records in any<br />
style from prog rock <strong>to</strong> jazz,<br />
from reggae <strong>to</strong> punk. VIP<br />
Records will also buy CDs,<br />
memorabilia, programmes,<br />
posters, etc. The doors open<br />
BOTTLE UP AND GO…SEE<br />
THE WHISKEY BROTHERS<br />
Mon 6th <strong>July</strong> Praza at 19:30<br />
Wed 8th <strong>July</strong> Central Library West Bromwich at 19:30<br />
Thu 9th <strong>July</strong> Great Barr Library at 19:30<br />
Fri 10th <strong>July</strong> The Black Eagle at 20:00<br />
Sun12th <strong>July</strong> Hamp<strong>to</strong>n by Hil<strong>to</strong>n at 13:00<br />
Sun 12th <strong>July</strong> Pure Bar & Kitchen at 17:30<br />
Supported by<br />
DEBUT CD – Bottle Up & Go on Big Bear Records<br />
Local Release <strong>July</strong> 3rd - Order now from:<br />
Big Bear Music, PO Box 944, Edgbas<strong>to</strong>n, Birmingham, B16 8UT<br />
0121 454 7020 / admin@bigbearmusic.com<br />
58 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 31ST BIRMINGHAM JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2015 59
ARTISTS A-Z<br />
THE JAZZ RAG<br />
BRITAIN’S BRIGHTEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE JAZZ PUBLICATION<br />
The Voice of Jazz In The UK Since 1987<br />
Bi monthly - A4 - 36 pages<br />
Subscribe for £17.50 a year - 6 editions -<br />
a saving of £2 on the cover price and mailed free <strong>to</strong> your door<br />
Jazz Rag Subscriptions, PO Box 944, Birmingham, B16 9UT<br />
Phone 0121 454 7020 Email: jazzrag@bigbearmusic.com<br />
The Whiskey<br />
Brothers<br />
at 10.00 am on Saturday<br />
<strong>July</strong> 11 - or contact 0116<br />
275 2815 or www.vip-24.<br />
com for more details.<br />
WALSALL JAZZ<br />
ORCHESTRA<br />
The Walsall Jazz Orchestra<br />
(1994) grew out of the<br />
Walsall Youth Jazz<br />
Orchestra. Direc<strong>to</strong>r John<br />
Hughes leads the 18 piece<br />
band which, unlike the vast<br />
majority of big bands, plays<br />
contemporary, rather than<br />
traditional big band music.<br />
They have <strong>to</strong>ured USA and<br />
Poland, partnered with Gary<br />
Bur<strong>to</strong>n, Steve Swallow,<br />
John Dankworth and others,<br />
released three impressive<br />
CDs, featured at London’s<br />
Royal Festival Hall and The<br />
Montreux Jazz Festival<br />
which was broadcast on<br />
BBC Radio 4. The Arguelles<br />
Brothers, Tom Porter,<br />
Shabaka Hutchings, Duncan<br />
Mackay and Peter Cater are<br />
among the fine musicians<br />
who have passed through its<br />
ranks.<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
The Whiskey Brothers<br />
featuring Richard Heath,<br />
on vocals and mandolin,<br />
and Gerry Smith, on piano,<br />
perform old style acoustic<br />
blues with songs from<br />
the great American blues<br />
tradition as well as their own<br />
material. In the mid 1990s,<br />
Richard and Gerry formed<br />
the Splinter Blues Band<br />
which apart from performing<br />
at venues like Ronnie Scott’s,<br />
also hosted a popular weekly<br />
blues club at the Hare and<br />
Hounds in south Birmingham<br />
for many years. In 2012 they<br />
reunited <strong>to</strong> form the Whiskey<br />
Brothers returning <strong>to</strong> their<br />
favourite style of music and<br />
the songs they most love <strong>to</strong><br />
play.<br />
AMY ON FILM<br />
The documentary film, Amy, about Amy Winehouse<br />
and directed by Arif Kapadia, has already headlined the<br />
Cannes Film Festival, but its UK release date of <strong>July</strong> 3 sees<br />
Birmingham’s Electric Cinema as one of the venues for<br />
first UK showings of this eagerly awaited and controversial<br />
film. From <strong>July</strong> 3 <strong>to</strong> 9 the Electric Cinema is screening Amy<br />
three times a day.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE<br />
Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival’s regular pho<strong>to</strong>grapher-at-large Merlin Daleman returns<br />
for the 2015 festival. Merlin lives in North Brabant in the Netherlands where his success<br />
as a pho<strong>to</strong>grapher has led <strong>to</strong> his winning the Silver Camera Award for Best Documentary<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>grapher on two occasions: 2006 and 2008. A graduate of the Royal Academy of the<br />
Arts in The Hague, he is a regular contribu<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> NRC Handelsblad and NRC Next.<br />
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RECORD<br />
COLLECTIONS<br />
WANTED<br />
Funds waiting for mint condition collections.<br />
1960s, Rock, Prog, Psych, Punk, New Wave,<br />
Jazz, Soul, Blues, Reggae etc. We also buy CDs,<br />
memorabilia, programmes, posters, etc.<br />
Visit these events or call for more info….<br />
CUSTARD FACTORY RECORD FAIR<br />
GIBB STREET. DIGBETH. B94AA<br />
SAT 11 JULY<br />
KINGS HEATH RECORD FAIR<br />
COCKS MOORS WOODS LEISURE CENTRE,<br />
KINGS HEATH, B14 6ER<br />
SAT 13 JUNE & 12 September<br />
VIP RECORD FAIRS. 0116 2752815 for more info.<br />
Doors 10am. www.vip-24.com<br />
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