Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival Programme

WWW.BIRMINGHAMJAZZFESTIVAL.COM
FESTIVAL@BIGBEARMUSIC.COM
HOTLINE: 0121 454 7020
Twitter: @birmjazzfest #BASJAZZ16
Facebook: Birmingham and Solihull
Jazz and Blues Festival
Photo by
Merlin Daleman

2 3
foreword
We are delighted to welcome back the Jazz and Blues Festival, which this year is bigger
and better than ever as it expands across the region to incorporate Solihull as well as
Birmingham.
With homegrown artists joining acts from Canada, Czech Republic, France, Holland,
Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain and the USA, the festival provides an
international soundtrack to summer in Birmingham and Solihull. And, let’s face it, there’s
something really special about live music.
Now into its 32nd year, the festival continues to go from strength-to-strength, growing
not just geographically, but also in terms of the wide range of exciting events and
entertainment on offer – for example, in addition to an incredible 188 performances, dance
events and workshops, there will also be meet-the-author book events, a photography
event for people of ages and abilities, and an exhibition of paintings with an opportunity to
meet the artists.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the festival organisers for their efforts
in ensuring that this remains such an important and eagerly anticipated fixture in the
calendar.
The festival is something we look forward to each year – there really is something for
everyone and we’re sure this year’s Birmingham and Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival will be
another smash hit.
Carl Rice, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of
Birmingham City Council
With grateful thanks to the Festival’s Sponsors and supporters
without whom there would be no Festival.
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com
32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016

4 5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
PO Box 944, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8UT
Phone: 0121 454 7020 Email: festival@bigbearmusic.com
Performances are free unless denoted otherwise. In restaurant
performances accepted etiquette applies in terms of dining.
Festival Patron: Digby Fairweather
Advisory Board: Dan Cole, Jill Hitchman, John Hemming, Derek Inman, John James, John McDermott,
Melanie Palmer , David Pardoe, John Patrick, Cllr. Rob Sealey
Festival Director: Jim Simpson
Commercial and Development Director: Tim Jennings
Business and Marketing Manager: Yue Yang
Development Manager: Nick Hart
Planning and Co-ordination: Michael Fort, Louis Fernez
Programme Editor: Ron Simpson
Photographer: Merlin Daleman (www.merlindaleman.com)
Programme & Publicity Design: Nerys James (nerys.james@gmail.com)
Media: Jill Hitchman, Carole Manship
Creative Consultant: Phil Thomson
Curators of Exhibition of Photography: Casey Li, Felicity Hall, Nora Al-Hindi and
Francisca Borzea from BCU
Transport Manager: Kieron Burns
Technical Managers: Davyd Bagby, Errol Taylor, Sam Deng
Operations: Carmine Marotta, Manyee Yiu
Film Unit: Greg & Margaret Gdowski (www.fiftysevenstudio.com)
Photography Team: Kerry Smith, Thomas Lowrey, Becca Pearce
Chinese Media Team: Jie Ren, Mengnan Wang, Shasha Zhang, Shuai Yuan, Zhirong Yu
Artists Booking: Big Bear Music Agency 0121 454 7020 agency@bigbearmusic.com
PA & Backline: PMT Lawley Middleway Birmingham B4 7XX - 0121 359 5056
Drums & Backline: Laney, Tama & Zildjian
Mobile Communications: Cartel Communications 0121 622 5555
Accountants: David Cutter & Co (www.davidcutter.co.uk)
Book-Keeper: Juliet Kenny
Website: Rob Sealey [www. thosecleverwebpeople.com]
Hotel Partner: Hampton By Hilton [www.hampton.com]
Special Thanks To:
Alan Gregory; Alan Warner; Alex Nicholson-Evans; Alex Perrins; Alice Weryk; Alison Moody; Amy
Robinson; Angela Hodge; Anita Dinham; Barry Bayliss; Bob Norton; Botanical Gardens; Cathryn Boffy;
Cherie Lumby; Chris Ash; Chris Hall; Curtis Buck; Dan Auty; David Pardoe; David Peace; Dean Powell;
Elaine Williams; Emma Creasey; Emma Yufera-Ruiz; Fiona Lockyer; Gareth Downes; Garry Chapman;
Graham Smith; Graham Young; Ilhan Ozeren; Jabbar Khan; James Burkmar; James Lagneau; James
Wheeler; Jenny Wilkes; Jessica Hoyle; Jo Sweet; Joanna Westwood; John Tipton; Kerrie Barber; Kim
Hill; Lawrence Smith; Leon Shutkever; Lina Higuita; Lisa Beaumont; Lucy Elvin; Luke Crane; Martyn
Nelson; Matt Scriven; Melissa McMurdock; Mi Lan; Michele Wilby; Mike Bushell; Mike Olley; Natlja
Bulgakova; Nigel Barker; Nikki Morris; Patrice Hourbette of Music LX; Patrick Power; Paul Roobottom;
Paulo Jacinto; Peter Hodgson, Siew Kuan Yap and Lisa Travers of Blue Piano; Peter Suddock; Pip
White; Rebecca Delmore; Rimante Sodeikiene & Rita Valiukonyt of Lithuanian Embassy in the UK; Robin
Ford; Shannon Chu; Shannon Lewis; Simon Doyle; Steve Knights; Sushil Virmani; Tahreem Bhatti; Tony
Elvin; Warwick Printing
THE JAZZ FESTIVAL BOARD
Behind this short, sharp celebration of jazz, blues and related music lie many months
of planning and organisation. Driving this forward is the Jazz Festival Advisory Board,
a very special group of people who freely give up time, expertise and enthusiasm in
order to help shape this Festival. Without the benefit of their wisdom, knowledge and
encouragement it would be impossible.
The Festival is pleased to welcome two new members to The Board, both of whom
joined earlier this year. John McDermott is Vice Chairman of Westside BID and Chairman
of City Centre Neighbourhood Forum. Melanie Palmer is Director of Solihull BID and
organised the Solihull Jazz Festival for four years before linking it with Birmingham
Find us on
facebook.com/birminghamjazzfestival/
tweet us your festival pictures and reviews
at @birmjazzfest and #BASJAZZ16
Dan Cole David Pardoe Derek Inman Jill Hitchman John Hemming
John James John McDermott John Patrick Melanie Palmer Rob Sealey
HAMPTON-BY-HILTON HOTEL
The Hampton-by-Hilton Hotel on Broad Street
is hosting six events in the festival, including talk
sessions on photography and swing dancing as well
as four live musical performances, climaxing with the
end of festival party. Festival goers wishing to stay at
the heart of the festival should contact
www.hilton.com/Birmingham

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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com WELCOME
WELCOME TO THE Birmingham and Solihull Jazz
and Blues Festival 2016!
I've had the privilege of writing
this joyful greeting annually for
eight years now; ever since the
Festival's founder-patron - the
late great Humphrey Lyttelton
- died (very inconsiderately
I thought!) on my birthday
in April 2008. While Humph
was Patron I was still doing
the rounds of Big Bear’s -
and always music-friendly
- Festival venues as a junior
trumpeteer. And once off
the stand I remember looking
and listening wide-eyed and
open-eared to the international
parade of stars - from Dizzy
Gillespie and Miles Davis to the
Modern Jazz Quartet, Count
Basie Orchestra, BB King and
Blues Brothers Band - who
graced the earlier festivals.
But of course, as some
songwriter once said, time
changes everything - and in
the ensuing two decades we
lost many of the founding-
fathers of jazz and blues
music to the simple matters of
time, the hour and mortality.
In consequence a few more
senior members of our jazz
community have - however
regrettably - reached out (in
critic Steve Voce's resigned
phrase) to 'cling to the
wreckage' of what's gone
before.
Not this festival however -
absolutely not! Jim and his
team at Big Bear have pressed
forward into the 21st century,
clinging not to the wreckage
of older times but rather to
their solid conviction that the
spirits of jazz and the blues
are as alive and well as ever,
and that all you need is an
open mind and ears in order to
hear the fruits of their heritage
sensationally celebrated by
newer names. And while the
term 'world music' raises the
occasional perturbed eyebrow
among jazz aficionados
there's no doubt at all that - in
geographic terms alone – this
festival’s music does indeed
come from all over the world.
Where else (over just ten
days) could you hear - for just
a handful of examples - the
Budapest Ragtime Band (from
Hungary), the New Orleans
Jump Band (from Spain),
Pepper and the Jellies (from
Italy), the Rajasthan Heritage
Brass Band (from India),
The Schwings with Laura
Budreckyte (from Lithuania),
and - oh yes, from the good
ol' USA – Caleb Chapman’s
Crescent Super Band, the
Inevitables and Brooks
Williams. But every one of
these brilliantly talented acts
confirms Duke Ellington's
timeless adage that: 'it don't
mean a thing if it ain't got that
swing'! And none of us would
have it any other way.
This year you'll find all these
acts - and dozens more like
them - presenting no fewer
than 188 performances in
over seventy venues; the kind
of logistic exercise which
would cross and re-cross the
eyes of less active and gifted
champions. But the Festival
Team have never flagged
for a moment in its tireless
creative commitment to the
Birmingham & Solihull Jazz &
Blues Festival and carried it
triumphantly forward, despite
financial recessions and the
inevitable budget cuts that
have followed. As you'll have
gathered by now I'm a great
big fan of this festival. Another
reason why we should (in
lyricist Johnny 'The Poet'
Burke's words) 'shout a few
hurrays' for this event is that it
brings fine established artists
like saxophonists Dave Gelly,
Simon Spillett, Art Themen and
Alan Barnes, clarinettist Julian
Marc Stringle and trumpeter
Bruce Adams. Oh - and me
too I suppose. We'll all be
there and we can't wait to see
you!
Digby Fairweather
32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 201532ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016
Photo by Merlin Daleman

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www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSDAY 14TH
JULY 2016
12:00
Mell Square, Solihull
The Broombusters
12:30
The Mailbox
Little Jo & The Misfits
12:30
The Square Shopping Centre
C-Jam
13:10
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Bruce Adams Quartet
with Dave Newton
14:00
Simon Spillett with
John Patrick Trio
14:00
Pizza Express, Sutton Coldfield
Robert Fowler Quartet
14:00
Oldbury Library
The Humors
16:00
Andy Bennett Band
17:00
The Brasshouse
Bruce Adams Quartet
with Dave Newton
[Sponsored by Backyard
Brewhouse]
17:00
Arcadian
The Broombusters
17:00
Shakespeare, Lower Temple
Street
Les Zauto Stompers
de Paris (France)
17:30
Marriott Hotel
Pepper & The Jellies (Italy)
18:00
Theatre Square, Touchwood
Bobby Woods Quartet
18:00
Suds & Duds
The Humors
18:30
White Swan
19:00
Park Regis
Robert Fowler Quartet
19:00
Bacchus
Roy Forbes Trio
19:00
Ebb and Flow
Suzi Woods
19:00
The Blue Piano
Chris Bowden & Rebecca
Nash
19:30
Ibis Birmingham Centre
Ricky Cool & The In Crowd
19:30
Le Monde
John Hemming &
The Jazz Lobbyists
20:00
Shakespeare, Summer Row
Simon Spillett with
John Patrick Trio
21:00
Broadway Casino
21:00
The Dog
The Quiet Men
17:30
Blue Piano
BRUSH WITH THE BLUES
Launch of an exhibition of
paintings
19:00
The Blue Piano
Eve of Festival Party
PEPPER & THE JELLIES (ITALY)
FRIDAY 15TH
JULY 2016

10 1132ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 2016
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURDAY 16TH
JULY 2016
12:00
BBC Birmingham The Mailbox
The Humors
Follow @BBCBlueRoom on Twitter
to experience this performance in
360° video
12:00
12:00
Bert & Gerts Market
Chase Jazzmen
12:00
Solihull Town Centre
On The Jazz Train
MATT PALMER’S JAZZ EXPRESS
12:30
The Mailbox
Simon Spillett Quartet
13:00
Sandwell Park Farm
Bruce Adams Quartet
with Dave Newton
£2.50/£2
14:00
The Catfish Kings
14:00
Caffe Nero, Brindleyplace
Ukulele Rocks
14:00
Bandstand, Brindleyplace
15:00
The Brasshouse
Les Zauto Stompers
de Paris (France)
[Sponsored by Backyard
Brewhouse]
15:00
Park Regis
Brooks Williams (USA)
16:00
Duelling Pianos
16:00
Bournville Village Green
Digby Fairweather
and the Chase Jazzmen
17:00
17:00
Royal Angus
Bruce Adams Quartet
with Dave Newton
18:00
Hampton By Hilton
The Humors
18:00
Digby Fairweather
and the Chase Jazzmen
18:00
Masai Blues
18:30
Edwardian Tea Rooms
19:00
Borracho De Oro
Simon Spillett Trio
19:00
The Blue Piano
The Catfish Kings
19:30
Le Monde
19:30
Wednesbury Library
20:00
Wellington
Les Zauto Stompers
de Paris (France)
Pepper
and the
Jellies
KEEP INFORMED
Send your email address to festival@bigbearmusic.com
to go on the free regular e-bulletin list

12:00
Park Regis
12:00
Les Zauto Stompers
de Paris (France)
12:00
The Humors
12:30
The Mailbox
Lee Jones Quartet feat.
Andy Shillingford
13:00
Poplar Walk Touchwood
Sheila Waterfield
13:00
Oak House, West Bromwich
14:00
The Great Birmingham
Trombone Company
14:00
The Busquitos (Holland)
14:00
Botanical Gardens
The Rascals of Rhythm
£7 & £4.75 conc
14:00
Fiddle & Bone
The Catfish Kings
15:00
The Brasshouse
Art Themen with
Brian Dee Trio
15:00
Waterstones
The Humors
16:00
The Stable
The Whiskey Brothers
17:00
Slug & Lettuce, Brindleyplace
Digby Fairweather Quartet
18:00
Café Rouge, The Mailbox
The Rascals of Rhythm
18:30
Soloman Cutler
19:00
O'Neills
Les Zauto Stompers
de Paris (France)
19:00
Botanical Gardens
Budapest Ragtime Band
(Hungary)
£12
19:00
The Junction
Art Themen with
Brian Dee Trio
19:30
Lord Clifden
John Hemming &
The Jazz Lobbyists
20:00
Prince Of Wales
The Humors
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNDAY 17TH
JULY 2016
SOLIHULL BID
From 2016 there is a new festival in the Midlands: the
Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival. Thanks to
Solihull BID an excellent Spring Bank Holiday jazz festival
has developed in recent years, based around a busy all-day
music stage in Mell Square. The Birmingham Festival has
never been limited geographically, staging events in Sutton
Coldfield, the Black Country, all across Sandwell - and,
course, in Solihull - so it was a logical step to incorporate
the Solihull festival into the new Birmingham and Solihull
Jazz and Blues Festival. There are events in Solihull
throughout the 10 days, but the major element remains in
the format Solihull jazz fans have grown to love, a packed
weekend daytime programme, the first weekend of the
Festival, in Mell Square.

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com MONDAY 18TH
JULY 2016
12:00
Church Street Square
Backyard Music Boys
12:00
Blue Piano
A Brush With The Blues:
Meet The Artist
Mark Skirving
12:30
The Mailbox
12:30
The Brasshouse
Digby Fairweather
with Brian Dee Trio
[Sponsored by Marstons]
14:00
Bournville Gardens
Saxitude (Luxembourg)
16:00
Waterstones
The Jazz Rag Quiz
with Digby Fairweather and
Ron Simpson
17:30
Hampton by Hilton
Photography Workshop:
Merlin Daleman, Festival
Photographer
19:00
Hampton by Hilton
19:00
Brewhouse and Kitchen,
Sutton Coldfield
Dave Gelly with Brian Dee
and Len Skeat
19:30
Thimblemill Library
New Orleans Jump Band
(Spain)
19:30
Lord Clifden
JAZZ IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
A regular highlight of the Birmingham Jazz and Blues
Festival has been the weekend concerts in Edgbaston’s
beautiful Botanical Gardens. This year the special Sunday
evening concerts feature two colourful and entertaining
bands. On June 17 the Budapest Ragtime Orchestra take
to the stand, to be followed a week later by this year’s most
exotic festival debutants, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass
Band.
Tickets from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
or 0121 454 1860
The Birmingham Jazz
and Blues Festival is very
grateful for the support of
Birmingham business in
the form of the Colmore
Business District, the
Jewellery Quartet BID,
Sutton Coldfield BID and
the Westside BID.
PMT
PMT, suppliers of equipment to the Festival, is the biggest
and best guitar showroom in Birmingham. PMT can be
found on Lawley Middleway (phone 0121 359 5056)
or online at www.pmtonline.co.uk/birmingham.html
The Busquitos

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com TUESDAY 19TH
JULY 2016
12:00
Cathedral Grounds
12:30
The Mailbox
Sarah Lenka Band (France)
12:30
The Brasshouse
Dave Gelly with
Brian Dee Trio
12:30
Strada, ICC
14:00
BBC Birmingham Mailbox
Strictly Jitterbug:
dance session and lessons
360° video
15:00
Hagley Road Village
(Spain)
17:00
New Street Station
18:00
Waterstones
Meet the Photographer:
Festival Photographer
Merlin Daleman
18:00
Hotel du Vin
18:30
Arts Café, West Bromwich
(Spain)
19:00
Ask, Sutton Coldfield
19:30
Cradley Heath Library
Roy Forbes
19:30
Lord Clifden
19:30
Bournville Gardens
Dave Gelly with Brian Dee
Trio
£7
20:45
The Perry Hill Tavern
Old Comrades Jazz Band
SKETCHING THE FESTIVAL
The Birmingham Jazz Festival has long had
a photographer-at-large. Now this year
festival patrons can look out for sketchers-
at-large. The 52nd Worldwide Sketch
Crawl begins at the BBC in the Mailbox
at 12 o'clock on the second Saturday.
Bring your sketch pads with you and join
Birmingham Urban Sketchers on a journey
which reaches the halfway point of the
Everyman Cinema at 1.30 and finishes at
the Caffe Nero in Brindleyplace at 4.00.
The Urban Sketchers form an active group
of artists who have previously sketched in
many areas of the city, notably the Barber
Institute, the Birmingham Museum and Art
Gallery, Sarehole Mill, the Museum of the
Jewellery Quarter, St. Philip’s Cathedral and
any number of churches.
www.sketchbrum.com

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com WEDNESDAY 20TH
JULY 2016
12:00
Colmore Square
(Spain)
12:00
St. Pauls Square
12:30
Moseley All Services Club
Birmingham Big Band
£5
12:30
The Mailbox
12:30
The Brasshouse
Julian Marc Stringle
with Brian Dee Trio
12:30
Strada ICC
Dave Gelly
14:00
Sutton Coldfield Library
LEE JONES AND KIM CYPHER
16:00
Hampton by Hilton
(Spain)
16:00
Waterstones
Meet the Author
- Dave Gelly
[An Unholy Row: Jazz in Britain
and Its Audience, 1945 to 1960]
18:00
Brindleyplace Central Square
The Inevitables (USA)
18:00
Core Theatre, Solihull
19:00
Fiesta Del Asado
19:00
The Blue Piano
Neil C Young Trio
feat. Steve Tromans
19:00
Tipton Library
Julian Marc Stringle
with Brian Dee Trio
19:00
Caleb Chapman’s Crescent
Super Band (USA)
19:30
Lord Clifden
(Spain)
19:30
Core Theatre, Solihull
King Pleasure &
The Biscuit Boys
£16
20:00
Film: Jazz on a
Summer's Day
20:00
Robin 2
Walter Trout Band
£20 ADV
20:00
Suds & Duds
Performances are free
unless denoted otherwise.
In restaurant performances
accepted etiquette applies
in terms of purchasing
a meal.
Julian
Marc
Stringle
King Pleasure and
the Biscuit Boys

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com THURSDAY 21ST
JULY 2016
12:00
Snowhill Square
(Spain)
12:00
St. Pauls Square
Remi Harris Trio
12:30
The Mailbox
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
12:30
The Brasshouse
13:00
SAXITUDE [LUXEMBOURG]
perform NINO SOPRANINO for 4
to 11 year olds
360° video
14:00
Core Theatre Studio, Solihull
The Inevitables (USA)
17:30
Strada ICC
Suzi Woods
18:00
Balcony Brasserie, Selfridges
Roy Forbes Trio
18:00
SKETCH TALK: MEET THE
URBAN SKETCHERS
19:00
Borracho De Oro
Sheila Waterfield
19:00
Nosh & Quaff
19:00
Panache, Sutton Coldfield
Blue Silk
19:30
Midlands Arts Centre
The Quiet Men
19:30
Great Barr Library
Emma Jonson & Sam Rogers
19:30
Lord Clifden
Remi Harris Trio
20:00
Drop Forge
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
20:00
The Junction
Lee Jones Quartet feat.
Andy Shillingford
20:00
O'Neills
Caleb Chapman’s
Crescent Super Band (USA)
20:00
Pushkar
21:00
All Bar One
The Broombusters
MAILBOX AT
LUNCH-TIME
The newly refurbished
Mailbox will once again
host daily concerts at
lunch-time on the terrace
overlooking the canal -
once again the line-up is
excitingly international.
Such British stars as
Simon Spillett are joined by
musicians and bands from
the Netherlands, France,
Luxembourg, the Czech
Republic, Lithuania and
Canada.
In the case of outdoor performances alternative indoor
venues will be arranged. For up to date information join our
email bulletin list.
Simply get in touch at festival@bigbearmusic.com
Sarah Lenka Band

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com FRIDAY 22ND
JULY 2016
12:00
Cathedral Grounds
12:00
St. Pauls Square
Alan Barnes Quartet
12:30
The Mailbox
Budreckyte (Lithuania)
13:10
Barber Institute
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
17:00
The Brasshouse
Alan Barnes Quartet
17:00
Shakespeare,
Lower Temple Street
18:00
Suds & Duds
Roy Forbes Trio
18:30
White Swan
Trombone Company
18:30
Walkabout Solihull
Blue Silk
19:00
Bacchus
Terry Clarke Band
19:00
Eleon Sutton Coldfield
Tipitina
19:00
Park Regis
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
19:00
West Bromwich Library
Joe Fournier (Canada)
19:00
The Blue Piano
Pete Hyde & The Viellards
19:30
Le Monde
The Quiet Men
19:30
Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Lindy Exchange:
£20
20:00
Shakespeare, Summer Row
David Moore Band
MUSICIANS UNION
‘An organisation that can help its members
throughout their professional careers and
beyond.’
As always the Festival is extremely grateful
for the support, financial and otherwise, of
the Musicians Union.
www.musiciansunion.org.uk

10:30
St. Pauls Square
12:00
START OF URBAN
SKETCH CRAWL
12:00
Ukulele Rocks
360° video
12:30
Hampton by Hilton
Talking Lindy Hop
12:30
The Mailbox
13:00
Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
Rudie & The Revolvers
13:00
St. Pauls Square
Jerry Senfluk Quartet
(Czech Republic)
14:00
15:00
The Brasshouse
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
15:00
Park Regis
Tipitina
16:00
St. Pauls Square
Grey Goose Blues Band
16:00
Strictly Jitterbug:
Dance Session and Lessons
17:00
Royal Angus
Sauce City Jazz
18:00
Quinto, Sutton Coldfield
Jerry Senfluk Trio
(Czech Republic)
19:00
Blackheath Library
Steve Ajao Quartet
19:00
Ebb and Flow
19:00
The Blue Piano
Spirit of Tango
19:30
Le Monde
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
19:30
Aston University Guild Hall
The Jim Wynn Swing
Orchestra
£20
20:00
Wellington
Lee Jones Trio
20:30
Drop Forge
Tipitina
20:30
Fiddle & Bone
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SATURDAY 23RD
JULY 2016
Art ThemenPhoto by
Merlin Daleman
Come and see
tomorrow’s BBC…today!
Visit us for free: Sat &
Mon-Wed 10-5; Sun 11-5
We’re at BBC Birmingham,
Level 3, Mailbox,
Birmingham, B1 1RF.
Follow @BBCBlueRoom
on Twitter.

26 27
www.birminghamjazzfestival.com SUNDAY 24TH
JULY 2016
11:00
St. Pauls Square
Emma Jonson Quartet
12:00
Park Regis
12:30
The Mailbox
(Czech Republic)
13:00
The Dog
13:30
St. Pauls Square
Florence Joelle (France)
14:00
The Broombusters
14:00
Haden Hill Park
Trombone Company
14:00
Hotel Du Vin
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
14:00
Botanical Gardens
Eureka Jazz Band
£7 & £4.75 conc
14:30
Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band
14:30
Sam’s Jazz On the Water
15:00
The Brasshouse
David Moore Band
[Sponsored by Timothy Taylor
Landlord]
16:00
The Stable
C-Jam
16:00
New Inn, Harborne
Grey Goose Blues Band
17:00
O'Neills
Emma Jonson Quartet
17:00
The Dark Horse
Martyn Nelson & His
Rhythm Remedies
£10
17:30
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
18:00
Café Rouge, The Mailbox
Florence Joelle (France)
18:30
Soloman Cutler
19:00
Botanical Gardens
Rajasthan Heritage
Brass Band
£15
19:30
Lord Clifden
(Czech Republic)
20:00
Prince of Wales
BROOKS WILLIAMS (USA)
SUTTON COLDFIELD WELCOMES
32ND BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL
JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
JULY 15TH TO 24TH 2016
DATE ARTIST TIME
Friday 15th July Pizza Express:
ROBERT FOWLER QUARTET 14:00
Saturday 16th July The Parade, Bert & Gerts:
CHASE JAZZMEN 12:00
Monday 18th July Brewhouse & Kitchen:
DAVE GELLY TRIO 19:00
Tuesday 19th July Ask:
THE WHISKEY BROTHERS 19:00
Wednesday 20th July Sutton Coldfield Library:
LEE JONES & KIM CYPHER 14:00
Thursday 21st July Panache:
BLUE SILK 19:00
Friday 22nd July Eleon:
TIPITINA 19:00
Saturday 23rd July Quinto:
JERRY SENFLUK QUARTET 18:00
21:00
Hampton by Hilton
The Final Fling!
Hotsy Totsy Five
(Czech Republic)
The Broombusters
Bobby Woods

VENUES www.birminghamjazzfestival.com VENUES
All Bar One
Waters Edge, Brindleyplace B1 2HL
0121 644 5861
Arcadian
Hurst St Southside, B5 4TD
0121 622 5348
Ask, Sutton Coldfield
1-3 Manor Rd, Sutton Coldfield B73 6EJ
0121 354 8834
Bacchus
Burlington Arcade, New Street, B2 4JH
0121 632 5445
Balcony Brasserie, Selfridges
The Bullring, Upper Mall East, B5 4BP
0121 600 6869
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
University of Birmingham, B15 2TS
0121 414 7333
BBC Birmingham
102-108 Wharfside St, B1 1RE
0121 567 6000
Bert & Gerts Market
Sutton Coldfield Parade
07917 765238
Blackheath Library
145 High St, Rowley Regis B65 0EA
0121 559 1884
Blue Piano
24-26 Harborne Rd, B15 3AA
0121 454 6877
Borracho de Oro
Harborne Court, Edgbaston, B15 3BU
0121 454 5368
Botanical Gardens
Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3TR
0121 454 1860
Bournville Gardens
49 Bristol Road South, B31 2FR
0121 227 9000
Bournville, B30 2AA
0121 374 2139
Brasshouse
44 Broad Street, B1 2HP
0121 633 3383
Brewhouse & Kitchen
8 Birmingham Rd, Sutton Coldfield
B72 1QD
0121 796 6838
Broadway Casino
Broadway Plaza,
220 Ladywood Middleway B16 8LP
0121 456 5557
Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
Brunswick Park Rd, Wednesbury
WS10 9HH
0121 569 3440
Café Rouge
174-176 Wharfside St, Mailbox, B1 1RN
0121 665 6437
4 Brindley Place B1 2JB
0121 643 4572
Cathedral Grounds
Colmore Row B3 2QB
0121 236 4689
Central Library, West Bromwich
High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ
0121 569 4904
Central Square, Brindleyplace
2 Brunswick St, Brindleyplace, B1 2JF
07939 507 526
Church St Square
Church Street, B3 2NP
0121 236 4689
Colmore Square
Colmore Circus Queensway, B4 6BN
0121 236 4689
Core Theatre
Library Square, Homer Road, Solihull,
B91 3RG
0121 704 6962
Cradley Heath Library
Upper High Street, Cradley Heath,
B64 5JU
01384 569316
Dark Horse
145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13
0121 449 6300
Dartmouth Park
Reform St, West Bromwich B71 4AH
0121 569 3070
The Dog, Warley
Hagley Rd W, Warley B67 5EU
0121 429 2305
Drop Forge
6-10 Hockley Street, The Jewellery Quarter
B18 6BL
0121 448 4578
Ebb and Flow
Herbert Rd, Solihull B91 3QE
0121 709 0946
Edwardian Tea Rooms
BMAG Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH
0121 348 8090
Eleon
2 Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield
B72 1QL
0121 354 6805
Fiddle & Bone
4 Sheepcote Street, B16 8AE
0121 200 2223
Fiesta Del Asado
229 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, B16 9RP
0121 455 9331
Great Barr Library
Birmingham Rd, B43 6NW
0121 357 1340
Guild Hall, Aston
Aston University, Woodcock Street,
B4 7ES
0121 204 4855
Haden Hill Park
Halesowen Rd, Cradley Heath
B64 7JU
01384 569 444
Hagley Road Village
322-336 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston,
B17 8BH
0121 420 6000
Hampton By Hilton
200 Broad Street, B15 1SU
0121 329 7450
Hotel Du Vin
25 Church Street B3 2NR
0121 200 0600
Ibis Birmingham Centre
21 Ladywell Walk B5 4ST
0121 622 6010
Junction, Harborne
212 High St, Harborne, B17 9PT
0121 428 2635
Le Monde
Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, B1 2HL
0121 271 0600
Lord Clifden
34 Great Hampton Street, Hockley,
B18 6AA
0121 523 7515
MAC
Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH
0121 446 3232
Mailbox
7 Commercial Street, B1 1RS
0121 632 1000
Marriott Hotel
12 Hagley Rd, Five Ways, B16 8SJ
0121 452 1144
Mell Square
Drury Ln, Solihull B91 3BG
0121 704 3941
Moseley All Services Club
91 Church Road, Moseley, B13 9EA
0121 449 1573
New Inn
74 Vivian Rd, Harborne B17 0DJ
0121 426 3373
New Street Station
Smallbrook Queensway B2 4ND
0121 454 7020
Nosh & Quaff
130 Colmore Row, Victoria Square,
B3 3AP
0121 236 4246
O’Neills
Broad St, City Centre, B1 2HG
0121 616 1623
Oak House
Oak Road, West Bromwich B70 8HJ
0120 553 0759
Oldbury Library
10 Halesowen Street, Oldbury, B69 2AJ
0121 552 5933
Panache
1 Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield,
B72 1QL
0121 355 3353
Park Regis
160 Broad St, B15 1DT
0121 369 5555
Perry Hill Tavern
23 Perry Hill Rd, Oldbury B68 0AR
0121 422 6600
Pizza Express, Sutton Coldfield
5-7 Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield,
B72 1QA
0121 354 9261
Poplar Walk, Touchwood
Touchwood, Solihull B91 3GJ
0121 709 6900
Prince Of Wales
84 Cambridge St, B1 2NP
0121 643 9460
Pushkar
245 Broad St, B1 2HQ
0121 643 7978
Quinto
23 Birmingham Rd, Sutton Coldfield
B72 1QA
0121 354 6486
Robin 2
20-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston
WV14 7LJ
01902 497860
Royal Angus Hotel
St Chads Queensway B4 6HY
0121 606 4500
Sam’s Jazz On The Water
Birmingham Canal Boat Services,
Gas St Basin B1 2JT
07760 492965
Sandwell Arts Cafe
Central 6th, New Street, West Bromwich
B70 7PG
0121 569 8236
Sandwell Park Farm
Salter's Ln, West Bromwich B71 4BG
0121 569 30 70
Shakespeare
Summer Row, B3 1JJ
0121 236 8702
Shakespeare
Lower Temple Street, B2 4JD
0121 616 2196
0121 633 3049
Snow Hill Station Square
Colmore Row, B3 2BJ
0121 236 4689
Soloman Cutler
Regency Wharf, Broad St, B1 2DS
0121 631 8930
The Square
2 The Priory Queensway, B4 7LJ
0121 236 5303
St Pauls Square
St Paul's Square, Jewellery Quarter,
B3 2BJ
0121 233 2814
Stable
115 John Bright St, B1 1BE
0121 643 8918
Strada, ICC
International Convention Centre B1 2EA
0121 212 2661
Suds N Duds
14 Gas St, B1 2JT
07741 242875
Sutton Coldfield Library
Lower Parade, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1XX
0121 464 0165
Touchwood, Solihull B91 3GJ
0121 709 6900
Thimblemill Library
Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ
0121 429 2039
Tipton Library
17 Unity Walk Tipton DY4 8QL
0121 557 1796
Walkabout, Solihull
16-24 Poplar Rd, Solihull B91 3AB
0121 227 5721
Waterstones, Birmingham
24-26 High Street B4 7SL
0121 633 4353
Waters Edge Bandstand,
Brindleyplace
07939 507 526
Wednesbury Library
Walsall St, Wednesbury WS10 9EH
0121 556 0351
Wellington
37 Bennetts Hill, B2 5SN
0121 200 3115
White Swan, Harborne
Harborne Road, B15 3TT
0121 454 2359
Performances are free
unless denoted otherwise.
In restaurant performances
accepted etiquette applies
in terms of purchasing
a meal.
NATIONAL EXPRESS
FESTIVAL GUIDE
Those extremely helpful
people at National Express
West Midlands have
produced a guide to
enable folk to get around
the Festival by bus. It’s
free and available from all
Festival venues.

www.birminghamjazzfestival.com ARTISTS A-Z
30 31
COOL VENUE : HOT ATTRACTIONS
Live Concerts in the idyllic setting of Birmingham’s
BOTANICAL GARDENS
For further information call Festival Hotline 0121 454 7020 or
email festival@bigbearmusic.com
Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston B15 3TR
Tickets available from www.ticketsellers.co.uk and from 0121 454 1860
BUDAPEST RAGTIME BAND
THE RAJASTHAN HERITAGE BRASS BAND
Sunday 17th July
7pm
Tickets £12
Ragtime, Jazz and Dixieland
evergreens, musical parodies
and humorous adaptations of
world famous tunes and operas
Sunday 24th July
7pm
Tickets £15
A heady, exciting and hypnotic
reflection of the evocative and
joyous music of Rajasthan -
dancing is inevitable!
Alan Barnes Quartet
No Birmingham jazz festival
would be complete without
the outstanding saxophonist/
clarinettist Alan Barnes
whose career since leaving
Humphrey Lyttelton’s Band
in 1992 has seen him playing
with many top American
jazzmen, collecting British
awards galore in at least
five categories, running his
own Woodville record label
and pursuing an active
and successful career as
composer and arranger.
Birmingham audiences will
remember such extended
works as Swinging down
Broad Street and Marbella
Jazz Suite. In the best
tradition of Barnes literary
suites, the end of 2015 saw
him touring and recording his
jazz version of A Christmas
Carol.
ANDY BENNETT
Singer/guitarist Andy Bennett
is best known for his work
with the group Ocean Colour
Scene. He first broke through
on the Birmingham scene
with his band The Elements
before joining Ocean Colour
Scene in 2004. Last year he
left the band to focus on his
own solo material.
Art Themen
The wonderfully original
saxophonist Art Themen
managed throughout a long
and successful career as an
orthopaedic surgeon to build
a major reputation on the
British jazz and blues scene,
initially picking up national
awards with the Cambridge
University Jazz Band, then
playing and touring with the
likes of Alexis Korner, Mick
Jagger and Jack Bruce
before lending his Sonny
Rollins-influenced tenor sax
into many top jazz groups.
Since retirement from
medicine, Art has gone from
strength to strength, with the
British Jazz Award for tenor
sax coming his way in 2008.
BACKYARD MUSIC BOYS
This four piece acoustic
band captures the
excitement and verve of
1920s/1930s hot jazz. Lining
up with clarinet, trumpet,
sousaphone and banjo, led
by Matt Palmer, they are
equally comfortable strolling
or static onstage.
BILL COLEMAN
Bill Coleman’s accomplished
double bass has been a
notable feature of many an
accompanying trio at the
Birmingham festival for many
years. His versatility and
musicianship keep him much
in demand, with his most
high-profile work recently
being many years with Kenny
Ball’s band.
BIRMINGHAM LINDY
EXCHANGE
Birmingham Lindy Exchange
offers a unique opportunity
to enjoy dance workshops
with some great live music
in a number of fantastic
settings scattered across
Birmingham, from the
Botanical Gardens to the
Birmingham Swing Ball
at Aston University. The
schedule combines large-
scale evening parties with
smaller, more intimate
daytime dance opportunities
and the chance to talk Lindy
Hop under the direction
To keep up to date on news and changes to the
programme, join our email bulletin list.
Simply get in touch at festival@bigbearmusic.com
TAMA DRUMS/
ZILDJIAN CYMBALS
Many thanks to Tama
Drums and Zildjian
Cymbals for supplying
drum kits for the festival
- outstanding equipment
for some outstanding
music-making
Alan
Barnes
Photo by
Merlin
Daleman

of Martyn Nelson at the
Hampton-by-Hilton.
BLUE SILK
A new project for Judy Blue,
star singer with Masai Blues,
teams her with exciting
young guitarist Ian Silk.
BOBBY WOODS (U.S.A)
Singer Bobby Woods was
born in Chicago and grew
up surrounded by the
sounds of jazz, blues and
gospel greats. Now based
in Birmingham and a regular
favourite at the city’s Jazz
and Blues Festival, Bobby
has appeared with Osibisa,
Eddie Grant and Third World
and has toured widely in
Europe and Africa.
BRIAN DEE
In addition to his great
work in trio formats and as
accompanist, Brian Dee
starred in last year’s Lady
Sings the Blues concert,
now available on CD as
Laughing at Life. Brian’s
skills as an accompanist are
matched by his ability as an
original and accomplished
soloist. In a highly successful
career he has worked with
such legends of British jazz
as Tubby Hayes and Ted
Heath as well as being MD
for Elaine Delmar for many
years.
BROOKS WILLIAMS
(U.S.A.)
Ranked one of the Top
100 Acoustic Guitarists,
singer-songwriter Brooks
Williams writes groove-
laden songs and delivers
them with an easy-going
vocal style and monstrous
guitar chops. Walking the
line between blues and
Americana, Williams has
worked stages worldwide for
over 25 years, amassing a
staggering back-catalogue
of songs, recordings and
tales. With nearly 20 CDs
to his name – and more on
the way – this Statesboro,
Georgia, native was named
Best Male Vocalist by UK
roots magazine Spiral Earth
in 2013.
THE BROOMBUSTERS
The Broombusters’ unique
fusion of blues and reggae
draws on influences as
wide-ranging as Bob
Dylan, Elmore James, Jimi
Hendrix and Muddy Waters.
Leading the five-piece band
is the charismatic Charlie
‘Wolfman’ Sylvester from the
late 1970s disco soul band,
the J.A.L.N. Band.
BRUCE ADAMS
First choice for many an all-
star band, trumpeter Bruce
Adams has often been heard
at many of the UK’s leading
jazz festivals. Over the
years, Bruce’s popularity has
depended on his inspired
and dynamic quartet and
quintet gigs, reinforcing his
reputation as one of the
most exciting jazz trumpeters
in the country. His
remarkable technique and
bravura playing have earned
him numerous British Jazz
Awards, either for Trumpet or
(with Alan Barnes) for Small
Group and New CD.
BUDAPEST RAGTIME
BAND (HUNGARY)
Long-time favourites at
Birmingham and many other
festivals throughout Europe,
the Budapest Ragtime Band
was established in 1980 by
trained jazz and classical
musicians who created
their own style by adding
original instrumentation
to the traditional piano
interpretation of ragtime.
Since then the band has
enlarged its repertoire into
everything from Dixieland
to operatic parodies and
has toured successfully
throughout Europe and
America, performing regularly
on Hungarian, German,
American and Swiss
television.
THE BUSQUITOS
(NETHERLANDS)
The Busquitos’ brand of
happy swinging music for
all ages sees them in great
demand for festivals in
Austria, Germany, Spain and
the Netherlands as well as
the UK. The combination of
brilliantly played music and
dazzling funny entertainment
will put a smile on anyone’s
face.
Caleb Chapman’s
CRESCENT SUPER BAND
(U.S.A.)
Organised in 2001 under the
direction of Caleb Chapman,
the award-winning Crescent
Super Band, consisting of
25 musicians between the
ages of 15 and 18, has
been hailed as one of the
best professional bands in
the world to be composed
entirely of young musicians.
From its Utah base, the
band has played festivals in
PARK REGIS
The Festival is delighted to welcome Birmingham’s newest
luxury hotel, the Park Regis at Five Ways. The first hotel in
this high quality group to be opened in Europe, the Park
Regis provides a splendid setting for the Festival launch
with Pepper and the Jellies, plus further performances
during the Festival.
www.parkregisbirmingham.co.uk
Budapest
Ragtime Band
Brooks Williams
ARTISTS A-Z
Bruce Adams

Switzerland, Netherlands,
Italy and France. In 2013 the
Crescent Super Band played
Carnegie Hall with guests
David Sanborn and Wayne
Bergeron.
CATFISH KINGS
The Catfish Kings have 50s
music written through them
like a stick of Brighton rock.
Take some New Orleans
rhythm ‘n’ blues in the
manner of Little Richard and
Fats Domino, mix in with Big
Joe Turner’s boogie beat and
blend in the best of Louis
Jordan, Chuck Berry and
Jerry Lee Lewis!
CHASE JAZZMEN
This highly popular and
talented band, based in
the West Midlands and
Shropshire, is composed
of leading musicians with
a long-standing history
of playing traditional and
popular jazz, plus numbers
from the swing era and the
Sinatra songbook.
CHRIS BOWDEN AND
REBECCA NASH
Saxist Chris Bowden first
came to notice with his
1996 album, Time Capsule,
with a 12-piece band and
20 years later was blowing
the roof off Ronnie Scott’s
with his current trio. At the
Blue Piano he teams up
with Rebecca Nash, pianist
and noted jazz educator.
Rebecca has worked with
an impressive list of British
jazzers – including, among
many others, Tina May, Mike
Gibbs and Henry Lowther.
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
BIG BAND
Recognised as probably the
Midlands’ most entertaining
big band, the CBBB
offers the full Glenn Miller
sound with five saxes, four
trombones, four trumpets
and four rhythm, plus
vocalists. In addition to Miller,
listen out for the music of
Ellington, Basie, the Dorseys
and the UK’s own Ted Heath.
C-JAM
C-Jam’s repertoire is
large and varied, ranging
from cool jazz sounds
to stomping blues/R&B
and soul favourites. The
experienced line-up includes
three ex-members of the
Steve Gibbons Band: Brian
Badhams (keyboards and
vocals), Bob Wilson (lead
guitar/vocals) and drummer
Brendan Day. Bassist Frank
Walker’s colourful music
career includes working with
Glenn Tipton in the Flying
Hat Band and appearing with
Alvin Stardust, whilst saxist
Sam Rogers first came to
notice with the Walsall Jazz
Orchestra.SANDWELL EVENTS
The spread of the festival
takes in a whole series
of fine performances
in interesting venues
throughout Sandwell. In
addition to no fewer than
nine libraries, concerts
in Sandwell take place
in two bandstands, one
park farm, one arts café
and two houses of historic
importance!
CrossCountry are proud to
be supporting the
BUDAPEST
RAGTIME BAND
at Jazz in the
Gardens 2016
Caleb Chapman’s Crescent Super Band

DAVE GELLY
Smitten by jazz at an
early age, Gelly took up
the clarinet at 14 and the
saxophone a few years later.
He played in, and eventually
led, the award-winning
Cambridge University
band, whose personnel
included, among others, Art
Themen and Lionel Grigson.
Alongside his reputation as
a fine jazz tenor saxist, Dave
has built a reputation as an
award-winning jazz writer,
both as a journalist (currently
with The Observer) and as
the author of several well-
received books, including
biographies of tenor sax
greats Stan Getz and Lester
Young and An Unholy Row,
dealing with post-war British
jazz and its audience.
DAVE MOORWOOD’S
RASCALS OF RHYTHM
Since leaving the Pete Allen
Band in 2004, banjoist/
guitarist Dave Moorwood
has concentrated on his
own bands, the Big Bear
Stompers and the Rascals
of Rhythm. The five-piece
Rascals boast a unique
sound, with a front line of
two multi-instrumentalist
reedmen, Mike Wills and
Tony Blincowe. The band’s
repertoire draws on great
tunes from Jelly Roll Morton,
Fats Waller, Duke Ellington
and the Great American
Songbook.
DAVE NEWTON
Since emerging from the
Leeds College of Music
at the same time as his
frequent collaborator Alan
Barnes, Dave Newton has
built a huge reputation as
one of the most individual,
versatile and technically
assured of British jazz
pianists. The recipient of
many British jazz awards and
with a large and varied list of
CD recordings to his credit,
he is as much at home in a
duo situation as composing
and arranging for a medium-
sized group and will be heard
at the festival in the trio
format with various soloists.
DAVE TANDY
An alumnus of the Midland
Youth Jazz Orchestra,
where he had the chance
to work with the likes of
Jacqui Dankworth, Mark
Nightingale, Bobby Shew
and Wayne Bergeron, Dave
played with such bands as
the Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra
and King Pleasure and
the Biscuit Boys before
becoming the regular
drummer with the Syd
Lawrence Band in 2012.
DAVID MOORE
David’s passion is blues
guitar, though his working life
in New York has brought him
HORTONS
Hortons is an independent
Midlands based property
company owned by the
Horton family. It was
founded by Isaac Horton
and first incorporated
in 1892. The portfolio
contains a number of
landmark buildings,
including The Grand,
Colmore Row.
The company has a long
standing commitment to
supporting the community
in which it operates. It is
a supporter of a number
of arts bodies, and this
year will be supporting the
Festival’s Photography
Project.
WATERSTONES
- PHOTO EXHIBITION AND MORE
Waterstones are hosting an exhibition of photography
from the 2015 Jazz & Blues Festival from July 8th to 31st,
sponsored by Hortons’ and curated by BCU students
Casey Li, Felicity Hall, Norah Al-Hindi and Francisca Borzea
under the guidance of Phil Thomson. Waterstones will
also present a performance by The Humors, a jazz quiz in
conjunction with the Jazz Rag magazine featuring Digby
Fairweather and Ron Simpson, a Meet the Photographer
session with Merlin Daleman and author Dave Gelly talking
about his book An Unholy Row: Jazz in Britain and Its
Audience, 1945-1960.

experience in a wide variety
of styles. Initially inspired by
such Birmingham musicians
as the late Roger Hill,
David graduated from the
Birmingham Conservatoire
in 1999. He moved to
New York in 2010, but is
now enjoying being back
in Birmingham for a spell,
demonstrating a fresh and
exciting approach to the
blues.
DIGBY FAIRWEATHER
Since l995 top British jazz
trumpeter Digby Fairweather
has led his award-winning
Half-Dozen and last year
celebrated the band’s 20th
anniversary with a major
tour and a CD highlighting
The Best of the Half Dozen.
The Half Dozen toured and
recorded with legendary
singer George Melly
(2003-7) and has since
frequently performed with
Paul Jones. Digby founded
the Association of British
Jazz Musicians (l987) and
National Jazz Archive (l987)
and broadcast widely on
jazz for the BBC and Jazz
FM (l986-1998) before
returning to fulltime playing
in l998. In 2013 he received
the Worshipful Company
of Musicians’ Lifetime
Achievement Award for jazz.
Currently he can be heard
on the new Big Bear CD,
Laughing at Life, recorded
at last year’s Lady Sings
the Blues concert at the
Birmingham festival.
DUELLING PIANOS
Duelling Pianos presents
the pianistic talents, back
to back, of Dino Baptiste
and Joe Stafford, backed by
drummer Jayme Tovey, in
an exciting duelling boogie
woogie and rock’n’roll band,
with excursions into reggae
and ska, funk and pop
classics.
EMMA JONSON
Leeds College of Music
graduate Emma Jonson
formed her own blues
band on leaving college.
Her versatility as pianist
and singer is shown by
a repertoire that features
originals, her own take on
boogie woogie and classic
and contemporary covers.
EUREKA JAZZ
Eureka Jazz, from Moseley,
plays happy and harmonious
1920s and 30s melodies
based on the Great American
Songbook. Terry McGrath on
trombone and saxes leads
the band in sweet vintage
music, from such as Cole
Porter, Gershwin and Hoagy
Carmichael.
FLORENCE JOELLE
(France)
Bred on jazz at home and
the street music of Paris,
the Gypsy art of Django
Reinhardt, bal musette, and
Florence Joelle

40 41
North African rai, singer,
songwriter, blues harmonica
player Florence Joelle
started collecting rock’n’roll,
doo-wop, Latin jazz, and
early blues as a girl. Her
music draws from all these
influences, carving out a
unique sound that, although
deeply rooted in the past,
vibrates in the present.
GARRY ALLCOCK
Garry Allcock, who will
lend his talents to various
accompanying trios at
the festival, has had an
impressively varied career
as one of the Midlands’ top
drummers, from being a
teenager enthused by Buddy
Rich, Gene Krupa and Louie
Bellson to working with
the likes of Kenny Baker,
Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes
and such visiting Americans
as Mel Torme, Maynard
Ferguson and Herb Geller to
founding his own 16-piece
big band in 1974.
GREAT BIRMINGHAM
TROMBONE COMPANY
The group is modelled
after Bobby Knight’s
Great American Trombone
Company, a pioneering
ensemble of five trombones
and rhythm section playing
hard-swinging jazz charts
and sounding like a miniature
big band.
GREY GOOSE BLUES BAND
Formed in 2008 by singer/
songwriter/guitarist Frankie
Williams, the Grey Goose
has developed a reputation
in the Midlands as one
of the freshest and most
original blues bands around.
Having cut their teeth on the
Black Country pub circuit,
the band played many
major blues festivals since
2010: Nantwich, Upton-
upon-Severn, Tewkesbury,
Swanage, Shetland, Aber
Jazz and Blues and, of
course, Birmingham Jazz
and Blues.
Hotsy Totsy Five
(CZECH REPUBLIC)
The Hotsy Totsy Five, led by
pianist/singer Iva Blazkova,
has developed from the
Teens Jazzband Velke
Losiny which has delighted
fans for many years at the
Birmingham Jazz Festival.
A young band focussing
on authentic interpretations
of 1920s and 1930s jazz,
the Hotsy Totsy Five has
performed at many jazz
festivals and radio and
television broadcasts.
Hotsy Totsy Five
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
The Festival depends on the volunteer army whose efforts enable the event to function
properly. Volunteers are already at work in the Festival office and around the area, but it’s
certainly not too late to come on board!
We are looking for drivers, technical staff, IT, distribution, marketing, PR and administration.
Call Sarah on 0121 454 7020 or email sarah@bigbearmusic.com

ARTISTS A-Z
THE HUMORS
Corry Fleming and Nicola
Cockburn comprise The
Humors, an Americana duo
who hail from Edinburgh.
The duo played Birmingham
Jazz & Blues Festival,
as The Precious Penny
Pluckers, two years ago.
Since then, they have earned
a prestigious Danny Kyle
nomination at this year's
Celtic Connection festival in
Glasgow and also appeared
as the guest band on a live
episode of STV Glasgow's
Riverside Show.
THE INEVITABLES (U.S.A.)
One of two bands in the
festival consisting of young
musicians from Caleb
Chapman’s Soundhouse
in Utah, the Inevitables
specialise in world music, an
eclectic mix of swing, gypsy
jazz, klezmer, zydeco, Delta
blues and pop. Formed in
2013, the 15-piece band is
in high demand for events in
the West and last year won
their first Downbeat award.
JERRY SENFLUK
(Czech Republic)
Born in Prague on St.
Patrick's Day, 1946, Jerry
Senfluk received private
tuition from the principal
clarinettist of the Czech
Philharmonic Orchestra, a
virtuoso performer and great
admirer of Benny Goodman.
He graduated from the
Conservatoire of Prague
in 1967, having made his
first public appearance on
clarinet in 1962, playing
alongside Acker Bilk. A
distinctive and technically
accomplished player in the
great tradition, Jerry remains
popular and highly regarded
throughout Europe.
JIM WYNN SWING BAND
This 16-piece re-creates
the authentic original
sound of 1930s and 1940s
swing music, bringing to
new life the charts of such
greats as Duke Ellington,
Benny Goodman, Fletcher
Henderson and Count Basie.
Reverend Richard Bashford
We were saddened to learn of the death of the former long-serving Festival Board member
and City Councillor, the Reverend Richard Bashford.
In 1994 Richard, who was Vicar of Winson Green, won a bye-election to become the first
Labour Councillor for Quinton.
Richard was a lifelong jazz fan, extremely knowledgeable about the music, and a committed
supporter of the Festival. He was to be seen almost every day of the Festival, sitting in the
front row, having arrived early, as was his wont.
Richard Bashford died on May 10th, having been in poor health for some time.
The Humors

JOE FOURNIER (CANADA)
Joe Fournier simply plays
American roots music –
country, soul, folk, rockabilly
and blues – with stories that
will make you laugh, cry and
cringe, sometimes in the
same verse. Joe has paid his
dues in every kind of musical
setting, even appearing as
Ringo in a Beatles tribute
band. With his ‘lyrics as
sharp as a broke beer bottle’
and his driving rhythm
and slide guitar, Joe has
steadily built an international
following. This year’s
Birmingham appearance, for
instance, is closely followed
by dates in the UK, Sweden,
the States and Canada.
JOHN HEMMING AND THE
JAZZ LOBBYISTS WITH
LORRAINE DONOVAN
John Hemming may be
better known for his political
career, but the former
MP is, as regulars at the
Birmingham festival know,
also a talented jazz pianist.
After several appearances
with his Ladies of Jazz, John
brought a new band to the
2015 festival and this year
the Jazz Lobbyists make a
welcome return.
JOHN PATRICK
John Patrick’s piano
playing has graced the
performances of many
American stars both in the
USA and the UK since the
1960s. For many years John
fronted his own Big Band,
but he is at his best in a
small group playing hard-
swinging modern jazz.
JULIAN MARC STRINGLE
QUARTET
Julian Marc Stringle was a
child prodigy, making his
television debut at 14 with
his teenage Dixieland band
Young Jazz. His range has
always been enormous, in
the early years Dixieland
co-existing with studying
composition with William
Lloyd Webber at the London
College of Music and touring
Europe with a modern jazz
quartet at the age of 17.
Julian’s clarinet and tenor
sax have been a dynamic
part of Digby Fairweather’s
Half Dozen for all its 21
years and last year Julian
made a major impact at the
Birmingham festival in the
band for the Lady Sings the
Blues concert.
KEITH BILL
Taking the piano chair in
many of the festival’s backing
trios, as he has done with
great success for many
years, will be Keith Bill, the
Midlands’ go-to man when
it comes to finding the ideal
accompanist for visiting
soloists.
LAUGHING AT LIFE
LADY SINGS THE BLUES
The Music of Billie Holiday
Performed by
Live at
Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival
Val
Wiseman
Digby
Fairweather
Roy
Williams
Julian
Stringle
Brian
Dee
Len
Skeat
Eric
Ford
New Release On Big Bear Records
Recorded live at last year’s
Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival
“An evening with six of Europe’s
finest jazz musicians and a
remarkable singer” – Dave Gelly
CD available at all record
retailers, Amazon, and all major
download sites
Distributed by RSK Entertainment
For further information contact admin@bigbearmusic.com
or phone 0121 454 7020
or write to PO Box 944, Birmingham B16 8UT
John Hemming and the Jazz Lobbyists with Lorraine Donovan

46 47
KING PLEASURE & THE
BISCUIT BOYS
‘To those who say that
Swing is a musical form best
left to Americans, prepare
to be proven wrong. This
British combo is bulletproof!’
- Atomic Magazine, New
York City
The all-time festival
favourites at Birmingham,
King Pleasure and the
Biscuit Boys make it a
regular stopping point on
the international round of
jazz and blues festivals.
The band’s driving force
since its inception way back
when, King Pleasure is one
of the great jazz and swing
performers. His ebullient,
joyful singing has long been
the band’s great trademark,
his fine tenor and baritone
playing an integral part of
that roaring King Pleasure &
The Biscuit Boys ensemble
sound that is guaranteed
to swing anyone into bad
health.
LEE JONES
Guitarist/composer Lee
Jones studied at the
Birmingham Conservatoire
with Phil Robson. He has
now released three solo
albums and worked with
many of the top names in
jazz, guesting with Martin
Taylor at the Pizza Express
and recording with Larry
Coryell, Jean Toussaint,
Dennis Rollins and others.
Lee will be joined by singer
KIM CYPHER.
LEN SKEAT
Bassist Len Skeat’s
remarkable career stretches
back some 50 years, with
membership of the Ted
Heath Orchestra and the
Stephane Grappelli Trio
among his earlier credits.
For years he was much in
demand for such visiting
Americans as Peggy Lee and
has racked up innumerable
British Jazz Awards. As
an original member of the
Lady Sings the Blues, he
appeared in last year’s
Birmingham concert which
is now available on CD from
Big Bear Records and has
been a regular in the festival’s
star backing trios for many
years.
LES ZAUTO STOMPERS
DE PARIS[FRANCE]
Les Zauto Stompers are
an accomplished and
entertaining five-piece from
Paris, the stars of festivals
throughout Europe and
a perennial favourite in
Birmingham. Their repertoire
takes you back to the
honkytonks of New Orleans
and the cabarets of Chicago
and New York. Virtuoso
cornetist Gilles Naudet
brings to life the classics of
Louis Armstrong and the
Stompers also favour the
music of Bix Beiderbecke,
Jelly Roll Morton, Joe ‘King’
Oliver, Fats Waller, Hoagy
Carmichael, Duke Ellington
and many other greats of
jazz.
LITTLE JO & THE MISFITS
Little Jo & the Misfits are
a six piece band from
Runcorn. They are quickly
gaining a reputation for
themselves as the band to
have at festivals and venues,
as they bring a fresh sound
and variety of material rarely
heard in the UK today.
Formed in early 2012,
Little Jo & the Misfits draw
influence from a wide
Les Zauto
Stompers de Paris

spectrum of artists such as
Louis Jordan. Imelda May,
Little Walter. T Bone Walker
and Billie Holiday… it’s a
long list.
MALCOLM GARRETT
Malcolm Garrett’s drumming
has long been one of the
strengths of the festival’s
accompanying trios. Widely
respected by his fellow-
drummers for his impeccable
technique, he also has an
international reputation as an
outstanding drum tutor.
MASAI BLUES
Masai Blues brings the
music of the Deep South,
with songs by the likes of
Koko Taylor, Keb Mo’, Sister
Rosetta Sharpe and Joe
Williams. Singer Judy Blue is
the real deal and with Masai
Blues the blues is alive and
well and enjoying a new
surge of energy.
MATT PALMER’S
MILLENNIUM EAGLE
JAZZ BAND
The Midlands-based
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band
emerged as a direct result
of the demise in 2005 of
the very popular Eagle Jazz
Band, formed by Ken Ingram
and Bob Smith in 1951.
Matt Palmer had recently
folded his Millennium Jazz
Band to join the Eagles, so
it was thought appropriate
to include ‘Millennium’ in
the name of the new band.
The band’s wide repertoire
includes popular songs and
classic jazz compositions
of the 1920s, 1930s and
1940s.
MIKE GREEN
A graduate of the
Birmingham Conservatoire,
Mike Green is well known
as the bassist with the trio
of the outstanding guitarist
Remi Harris. He will be heard
during the festival in various
accompanying groups.
MILES LEVIN
Miles Levin comes from
a great family tradition of
drummers, as the son of
legendary ex-Tubby Hayes
drummer Tony Levin.
Miles frequently played
at his father’s TL Club
in Birmingham and has
appeared with many different
groups in the city, most
recently From Scratch, with
the music of Joe Harriott
NEIL BULLOCK
As a drummer Neil has
learned from the best. His
first mentor was acclaimed
tutor Malcolm Garrett and
he has also studied with
American legends Joe
Morello and Jim Chapin.
Early in his career Neil was
a member of the Midland
Youth Jazz Orchestra,
among other bands, and
now he is recognised for his
ability and versatility, playing
soul, rhythm ‘n ‘ blues, jazz,
fusion, Latin and pop with
equal facility.
NEIL C. YOUNG TRIO
Guitarist Neil C. Young
aims to combine the funk
of John Scofield with Jim
Hall’s harmonic world and
the cool of George Benson.
A graduate of Birmingham
Conservatoire, he was
lauded at Lancaster Jazz
Festival as ‘a burgeoning
international jazz star’.
Little Jo and
the Misfits
We would like to thank
THE LITHUANIAN EMBASSY
and
MUSIC EXPORT LITHUANIA
for enabling the Festival to present the top swing band
THE SCHWINGS with star singer LAURA BUDRECKYTE

50 51
OPENING SEPTEMBER 2016
From airy daytime den to stylish night-time
hotspot ‘The Lobby on Hill Street’ will be a
welcoming round-the-clock hangout!
Wishing The Festival A Successful 2016 &
Looking forward to Offering Cocktails and
Jazz at the 2017 festival!
NEW ORLEANS JUMP
BAND (SPAIN)
Banjo player Mike Izatt’s
buccaneering international
band from the Costa del
Sol has been a real festival
favourite over the years, with
their spirited, entertaining
and idiosyncratic brand of
New Orleans music.
NICK MILLWARD
In-demand drummer Nick
Millward’s professional career
began with Pete Allen’s Jazz
Band after which he was a
member of Terry Lightfoot’s
band. In addition to leading
his own trio, he has been a
key member of both Kenny
Ball’s Jazzmen and Digby
Fairweather’s Half Dozen. He
will accompany a variety of
front-liners at the festival.
NINO SOPRANINO
Nino Sopranino is an
hour-long performance by
Luxembourg’s saxophone
quartet, Saxitude, aimed
to introduce 4-11 year olds
to the full glories of the
saxophone family, from the
tiny sopranino sax to the
mighty bass sax. It tells
the story of a very small
saxophone making his way
in a world of much bigger
instruments. Birmingham will
see the first performances of
Nino Sopranino in a newly
commissioned English
translation.
OLD COMRADES
JAZZ BAND
The forerunner of the Old
Comrades was a band that
trombonist Eric Dodgson
started in 1995 called the
Trent Valley Stompers. He
and banjoist Stan Owen are
the two remaining regular
members still with the Old
Comrades. The band was
formed because seven
enthusiasts were prepared
to play for nothing, learn
interesting lively numbers,
in order to get away from
playing hackneyed tunes.
PEPPER AND THE JELLIES
(Italy)
One of the great successes
of the last two Birmingham
festivals, Pepper and the
Jellies are a four-piece band
formed in 2013, headed by
singer Ilenia Appicciafuoco
and completed by Marco
Galiffa (guitar), Emiliani
Macrini (double bass) and
Andrea Galiffa (snare and
woodblocks). The band aims
to re-create the atmosphere
of the 1920s and 30s jazz
era and to evoke the voices
and songs of great jazz and
blues singers ranging from
Bessie Smith to Annette
Hanshaw, from Ma Rainey to
Ruth Etting. This year Pepper
and the Jellies have played
the Open Jazz Festival
KotCertino in Belgium and
July brings dates at Pozzuoli
Jazz Festival and Jazz Tage
as well as an eagerly awaited
return to Birmingham.
PETE HYDE & THE
VIELLARDS
Describing themselves as
‘a blues-Brummy bunch of
musos’, Pete Hyde & the
Viellards have a musical
pedigree that stretches
from Ronnie Scott’s to
Glastonbury.
New Orleans
Jump Band

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
The Photography Project,
sponsored by Hortons’
Estate, is an opportunity for
photographers of all levels
of experience to work with
an expert and evaluate
their work. Monday’s
Photographic Seminar and
Masterclass at the Hampton-
by-Hilton Hotel will feature
festival photographer-
at-large Merlin Daleman
talking about the work
of a photographer today,
in terms of composition,
technique and the pressures
of the subjects, and
briefing those attending on
photographing the Festival.
It’s an opportunity to have
your photographs assessed
(and praised!) by an expert
and the project will lead to
a photographic exhibition
in New Street Station
which last year proved an
outstanding success.
THE QUIET MEN
The Quiet Men are three
of the Midlands’ most
accomplished and in
demand session musicians
and have been playing
together as a group for some
two years. Colin Browne
(keyboards/vocals) has
played with Ruby Turner,
Barclay James Harvest and
Kate Bush; drummer Roy
Adams also worked with
Ruby Turner, plus such
notables as Roy Wood and
Chuck Berry; Dan Machin’s
guitar style takes in jazz,
blues and country with
impeccable technique.
RAJASTHAN HERITAGE
BRASS BAND (INDIA)
Eight musicians from the
villages round Jaipur, capital
of Rajasthan, form the
core of this extravagantly
costumed band, their
music a heady, exciting and
hypnotic reflection of this
enchanting region. With a
diverse repertoire spanning
Rajasthani folk songs,
Bollywood hits, spiritual
qawwali and Bhangra beats,
they cover the full spectrum
of the evocative and joyous
music of Rajasthan – and,
we are told, dancing is
inevitable!
REMI HARRIS TRIO
28 year old guitar genius
Remi Harris. Remi has
played the guitar since he
was six, formed his first
rock band at 12, quit at
15 to learn to play jazz
guitar properly. His trio
plays gypsy jazz like no one
else. The style is looser,
swings differently to the
traditional Reinhardt stylists
and is clearly influenced
by Remi’s fascination with
Wes Montgomery. Remi’s
debut album Ninick on Big
Bear Records was widely 5
Star reviewed and has been
We would like to thank
MUSIC LX
for supporting the return to Birmingham of the excellent
saxophone quartet SAXITUDE
Rajasthan Heritage
Brass Band

much praised by he likes
of Jamie Cullum and Cerys
Matthews.
‘… a recorded debut which
places Remi Harris securely
in the front line of the world’s
finest jazz guitarists.” -
The Jazz Rag
RICHARD HUGHES
Pianist Richard Hughes
recently played with King
Pleasure and the Biscuit
Boys at the prestigious
Umbria Festival. Since
turning professional, he
has played with groups
in many different styles,
including accompanying Tim
Kliphuis and Jonny Boston
at previous Birmingham
festivals. He has recently
recorded an EP of his own
original compositions.
RICKY COOL & THE
IN CROWD
Ricky first hit the headlines
with The Icebergs, only to re-
form as The Realtos where
he came to the attention
of ex-Led Zeppelin star
Robert Plant who recruited
him into his Honeydrippers.
Working with The Big Town
Playboys began his long-
term partnership with Andy
Silvester of Savoy Brown
and Chicken Shack. One of
the hottest frontmen in the
business, Ricky moved on to
the unstoppable Hoola Boola
Boys who toured with such
greats as the legendary Jerry
Lee Lewis.
ROBERT FOWLER
Primarily known as a tenor
saxist in the great tradition
of Coleman Hawkins and
Ben Webster, Robert Fowler
is equally accomplished
on clarinet and baritone
sax. Following a long stint
with the Pasadena Roof
Orchestra, he featured
in Humphrey Lyttelton’s
last band and is often to
be heard with fellow ex-
Lytteltonian Karen Sharp and
in all-star bands on record or
at festivals.
ROY FORBES
Roy Forbes is known
to festival audiences as
a dynamic and exciting
singer who has built a
great reputation in the
West Midlands over some
years as well as appearing
and recording at London’s
Jazz Cafe and the Stables,
Wavendon, and taking in
other festivals as distant as
Milan and St. Lucia, scoring
a big success at the Limoges
Jazz Festival (‘an exceptional
concert’, according to Le
Populaire du Centre). The
Birmingham Mail wrote
about Roy’s performance in
the 2011 festival, ‘Is there
a better male jazz singer in
this country? Probably not.
Roy Forbes is a master of his
trade.’
RUDIE AND THE
REVOLVERS
Voted the No.1 Ska and Soul
tribute band around the UK,
Rudie and The Revolvers
have been together for some
five years, playing all around
the country and headlining
at the Cavern in Liverpool
in June, 2012, following a
national tour supporting
Bruce Foxton's From The
Jam and Dexys Bootleg
Runners.
SARAH LENKA (France)
Returning to Birmingham
after her debut success at
last year’s festival, Sarah
Lenka is one of the most
highly regarded singers on
PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Sponsored by Hortons
Merlin Daleman has been the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival’s photographer-at-large
for some years. Merlin lives in North Brabant in the Netherlands where his success as
a photographer has led to his winning the Silver Camera Awards for Best Documentary
Photographer on two occasions: 2006 and 2008. A graduate of the Royal Academy of the
Arts in the Hague, he has worked on many international commissions as well as pursuing
his interest in jazz photography. Merlin’s work can be seen in the Exhibition of Photography
at Waterstones throughout July, he will hold a Photography Workshop at Hampton by Hilton
on Monday 18th and a Meet The Photographer session at Waterstones on Tuesday 19th
A Brush with The Blues
As well as being King Pleasure of Biscuit Boys fame, Mark Skirving is an artist with a
considerable international reputation. Since he started painting in 2003, his works have sold
across Europe, in Asia and North and South America. In A Brush with the Blues he unites
his two careers, with paintings of blues singers, including such greats as B.B. King who
Mark once shared a stage with when King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys opened for him at
Symphony Hall.
The Exhibition of Mark’s paintings of the Blues opens at The Blue Piano on July 14th with a
Meet The Artist session set for Monday 18th.
BBC BIRMINGHAM
BBC Birmingham will
feature a series of events.
After a gig by The Humors
on the first Saturday, the
BBC is home to Strictly
Jitterbug, free dance
lessons on Tuesday and
the first performance in
English of Nino Sopranino
for 4 to 11 year olds by
Luxembourg’s Saxitude
on Thursday. On the final
Saturday, the BBC will
host free Ukulele lessons
to all comers with Ukulele
Rocks as well as seeing
The Birmingham Urban
Sketchers off on their
Sketch Crawl.
ARTISTS A-Z
Remi HarrisPhoto by Merlin Daleman
Roy ForbesPhoto by Merlin Daleman

the Paris scene, touring with
the likes of Taj Mahal and
winning the SACEM award
in the New Voice category
in 2007. Her approach,
suitably Gallic, is to sing of
‘extreme aspects of love
seasoned with a sense of
humour, but also mystery
and sweetness.’ However,
much of her material is less
typically French, drawn from
the likes of Bessie Smith
and, especially, Billie Holiday.
SAUCE CITY JAZZ
Making a second
appearance at the festival,
Sauce City Jazz is a
traditional Dixieland jazz
band that plays in and
around Worcestershire and
the Midlands. Formed in
Claines, Worcestershire, in
1992, the six-piece band is
now in its 25th year.
SAXITUDE (LUXEMBOURG)
The band Saxitude is a
saxophone quartet that
was founded in 2003 and
has come up with a unique
sound and equally distinctive
mobile presentation style.
Original compositions of jazz
and improvised music are
included in their repertory.
Since 2003 the band has
played concerts in Germany,
Luxembourg, France,
Switzerland, Slovenia,
the Netherlands, Czech
Republic, Thailand and China
and returns to Birmingham
as a decided festival
favourite.
THE SCHWINGS WITH
LAURA BUDRECKYTE
(LITHUANIA)
The Schwings and Laura
Budreckyete return to
Birmingham as firm
favourites with the festival
public. The Schwings play
swing, gypsy and Brazilian
jazz with an authentic,
original sound and its
sincere communication
with the audience. A
pulsating rhythm, unusual
instrument combinations,
artistry, positive and
lively performance - all
these aspects define The
Schwings.
Singer Laura Budreckyte
comes from a cozy Birštonas
resort in the jazz mecca of
Lithuania, home to the oldest
jazz festival in Lithuania. In
2014 Laura graduated from
the Lithuanian Music and
Theatre Academy with a
master‘s degree in vocal jazz
studies. Also she became
1st place winner and best
free programme performer at
The Schwings
with Laura
Budreckyte
Saxitude Photo by Merlin Daleman

58 59
the Jazz Voices competition
in Klaip da (Lithuania, 2012),
and won the Grand Prix at
international Riga Jazz Stage
competition (Latvia, 2013).
SHEILA WATERFIELD
Sheila Waterfield is an
award winning vocalist who
was born and grew up in
Coventry and is one of seven
sisters, many of whom are
accomplished musicians
and singers. The family
were largely influenced by
Sheila’s mother who grew
up in a large traditional Irish
family where music was part
of everyday life. Her father
was a naturally gifted and
talented singer and sang the
songs of Bing Crosby, Nat
King Cole and Frank Sinatra
effortlessly. These early
influences of Irish, folk and
jazz set the scene for Sheila’s
musical journey which led
to her first professional
appearance as a jazz singer
at the age of 18.
SIMON SPILLETT
‘A formidable musician
and composer playing and
writing in an uncompromising
hard bop style.’
– Jazz Review.
Simon Spillett has
established himself in recent
years as one of the most
distinctive and dynamic tenor
saxophonists around. His
mentor was the celebrated
clarinettist and tenor saxist
Vic Ash, but his playing
recalls another star of 1950s
bebop. His driving and
energised style has often
been compared with that
of the late Tubby Hayes
and his approach shares
a similar love of dare-devil
tempos and all-out intensity.
Simon’s already considerable
reputation as a jazz writer
has been enhanced by the
appearance of his biography
of Tubby Hayes, The Long
Shadow of the Little Giant
(Equinox) and he was
involved in the acclaimed
film about Tubby, A Man in a
Hurry.
SIMON THORPE
One of the country’s most in-
demand bass players and a
great addition to the festival’s
roster of accompanying
musicians, Simon has
featured with great success
in bands from the popular to
the experimental. As well as
leading his own groups, he
has played on CDs by the
likes of Alan Barnes, Stacey
Kent and Martin Speake.
SPIRIT OF TANGO
This jazz trio features three
of Birmingham’s finest: Phil
Bond on accordion, Dave
Carroll on guitar and Mike
Green on bass. In addition
to South American dance
rhythms, the group draws
on 1940s swing and the
Parisian valses musettes and
Gypsy jazz.
WESTSIDE BID
The sponsorship of the Westside BID is once again a key
element in the Jazz and Blues Festival. So great is the BID’s
involvement that it almost constitutes a festival in its own
right with a total of no fewer than 60 events - enough to
make up a full festival in many another city
Saturday 16th July SIMON SPILLETT TRIO 19:00
Thursday 21st July SHEILA WATERFIELD 19:00
Authentic spanish food in a warm and relaxed environment
Harborne road, Edgbaston, B15 3BU hola@elborracho.co.uk 0121 454 5368 63
Sheila Waterfield
Simon Spillet
Photo by
Merlin
Daleman

STEVE AJAO
Steve Ajao has been a much
respected figure on the
Birmingham music scene for
over 30 years. Starting as a
drummer, he was working
as a blues guitarist in various
bands by his late teens.
Later he reinvented himself
as a bebop saxophonist,
appearing in many London
clubs and memorably
sharing the bandstand with
ex-Charlie Parker trumpeter
Red Rodney, while his
Blues Giants keep alive the
other side of his musical
personality.
STRICTLY JITTERBUG
Tuesday afternoon’s open-
to-all dance session at the
BBC in the Mailbox sees
Strictly Jitterbug inviting
newcomers and experienced
dancers alike to join with
them in sharing the joys
of swing and jazz dance.
Strictly Jitterbug has been
teaching a mix of East Coast
Swing and Charleston for
10 years, with two years as
resident dance teachers at
Birmingham’s Waterworks
Jazz Club. Other places
Strictly Jitterbug has taught
range from BBC Coventry
to the Cardiac Rehabilitation
unit at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital.
SUZI WOODS
Well versed in the Great
American Songbook and an
established singer/songwriter
herself, Suzi Woods sang
with Jools Holland’s Swing
Band in the 1990s. In recent
years she has proved a hit
with celebrities both fictional
and real-life, singing both
at Chardonnay and Kyle’s
wedding in Footballers’
Wives and at the christening
of David and Victoria
Beckham’s two sons.
TERRY CLARKE BAND
An established singer/
songwriter on the Midlands
scene for many years, Terry
is known for his groove-
driven fusion of jazz, blues
and song in a programme of
his own originals and covers
of the great singers.
TIPITINA
Tipitina – with Debbie Jones’
powerful gospel-tinged
vocals and Justin Randall’s
mighty two-handed piano -
deliver their own unique take
on the blues, barrelhouse,
boogie and gospel of New
Orleans, in the footsteps of
Professor Longhair, Dr. John,
James Booker, Fats Domino
and Allen Toussaint.
Tipitina’s second CD for
Big Bear, Taking Care of
Business, recorded at the
2011 Birmingham festival,
was greeted by uniformly
enthusiastic reviews:
‘A wonderful CD, it superbly
captures how this incredible
band sound au naturelle...
phenomenal. 10/10’
[Blues In Britain].
‘A joyous ride through up-
tempo feel-good rockers,
gospel-tinged ballads and
crowd-pleasing sing-alongs.
They're a barnstorming live
act, few do this with such
conviction.’ [Rock 'N' Reel]
TOM HILL
Californian bassist Tom Hill
has a great track record of
appearances backing star
musicians at the Birmingham
festival. Domiciled in
Birmingham for many years,
Tom’s reputation as wit,
wordsmith and comedian
matches his status as one of
the city’s most accomplished
bass players.
UKULELE ROCKS
The Great Ukulele Revival
continues! The informal
workshop run by Julian
Cockshott of Ukulele
Rocks at the Caffe Nero in
Brindleyplace is open to all
ages and all levels of ability,
from absolute beginners
upwards.
WALTER TROUT BAND
(U.S.A.)
Walter Trout’s career began
on the Jersey coast in
the late 1960s. When he
relocated to Los Angeles,
he became a sideman for
Percy Mayfield and Deacon
Jones. After working with
John Lee Hooker and
Joe Tex, he became the
guitarist for Canned Heat
in 1981 which led to a
spell with John Mayall’s
Bluesbreakers. When he left
the Bluesbreakers in 1989,
he formed the Walter Trout
Band which over the past
20-plus years has built a
tremendous international fan
base.
THE WHISKEY BROTHERS
featuring Richard Heath,
on vocals and mandolin,
and Gerry Smith, on piano,
perform old style acoustic
blues with songs from
the great American blues
tradition as well as their own
material. In the mid 1990s,
Richard and Gerry formed
the Splinter Blues Band
which apart from performing
at venues like Ronnie Scott’s,
also hosted a popular weekly
blues club at the Hare and
Hounds in south Birmingham
for many years. In 2012 they
reunited to form the Whiskey
Brothers returning to their
favourite style of music and
the songs they most love to
play. Since last year’s festival
the Whiskey Brothers have
released a highly successful
album for Big Bear, Bottle up
and Go.
ARTISTS A-Z
Tipitina
Photo by
Merlin Daleman
Ukulele Rocks
AUDIENCE SURVEYS
Volunteers will be passing amongst the audiences
throughout the festival endeavouring to divert your attention
long enough to complete a short survey. It would be really
helpful if folk could cooperate on this. The completed
surveys are an essential tool in raising the funds to enable
us put on free performances every year. If you would like
to complete a survey via email, send your email address to
festival@bigbearmusic.com

62 63
THE JAZZ RAG
BRITAIN’S BRIGHTEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE JAZZ PUBLICATION
TheVoice of Jazz InThe UK Since 1987
Bi monthly - A4 - 36 pages
Subscribe for £17.50 a year - 6 editions -
a saving of £2 on the cover price and mailed free to your door
Jazz Rag Subscriptions, PO Box 944, Birmingham, B16 9UT
Phone 0121 454 7020 Email: jazzrag@bigbearmusic.com
www.hortons.co.uk
@HortonsEstate
SPONSORS OF THE FESTIVAL
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
• Photographer-in-Residence Merlin Daleman
• Photography Workshop Monday 18th at 17:30:
Hampton-by-Hilton
• Exhibition of Festival Photography in Waterstones
during July
• Meet The Photographer: Waterstones Tuesday
19th July at 18:00
• Winter Exhibition of Festival Photography at New
Street Station December 2016/January 2017

Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival Programme

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