mac Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham UK 22-11-2016 In 1953 the philosopher Isaiah Berlin wrote a book called The Hedgehog And The Fox in which he applied the words of the Ancient Greek poet Archilochus, “Multa novit vulpes, verum echinus unum magnum” (“a… Read More ›
Review and pictures by Brian Homer The mac, Birmingham UK 09-11-2016 Strange Fruit is very hard song to do because of getting the tone of it right and because Billie Holiday did such definitive versions of it. So not many… Read More ›
Treating classic jazz standards to new and innovative treatments always makes for enthralling listening. Somehow there is a double pleasure: the old one of a song with the familiarity of your own home; the new one of finding that it… Read More ›
If you are going to try a few gigs in the English Midlands this month, these are the ones I’d choose from first: Saturday 12 Andrew Bain Embodied Hope Quartet Jazzlines, CBSO Centre, Birmingham 8pm, £12.50 The drummer’s Transatlantic all-star band playing Bain’s… Read More ›
Squatty Roo is the name of the tune and now it’s the name of a quartet formed by Birmingham saxophonist Mike Fletcher with fellow saxophonist Tom Challenger, bassist Olie Brice and drummer Christian Lillinger with a performance this evening, courtesy… Read More ›
“Style can be the cause of the death of creativity – if you think that your style is greater or better than any other style.” Those were the words of the late, great trumpeter Don Cherry, as related by drummer… Read More ›
Pictures and words by Garry Corbett Hexagon Theatre at MAC, Birmingham UK 04-10-2016 As the music began last night I couldn’t help bringing to mind the title of Val Wilmer’s book on the musical achievements of Ornette Coleman, Coltrane, Albert… Read More ›
If you are going to try a few gigs in the English Midlands this month, these are the ones I’d choose from first: Saturday 8 The Impossible Gentlemen Jazz @ The Arena, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton 8pm, £15 The Anglo-American band now numbers five… Read More ›
One of jazz and improvised music’s very finest percussionists, Hamid Drake, is coming to the UK early next month for a three-date tour. He will be playing with saxophonist Paul Dunmall, trumpeter Percy Pursglove, pianist Steve Tromans and double bassist… Read More ›
If you are going to try a few gigs in Birmingham this month, these are the ones I’d choose from: Friday 8 Sean Gibbs’ Fervour Birmingham Jazz, The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, 7.45pm, £6 New jazz quintet with rock/blues leanings led… Read More ›
If you are going to try a few gigs in Birmingham this month, these are the ones I’d choose from: Wednesday 8 In Love With TDE Promotions/Fizzle, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 8pm, £10 French drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq has string-playing brothers to share… Read More ›
Following on from U.S. jazz improv last month which featured Ken Vandermark and Nate Wooley, TDE Promotions and Fizzle have some cutting edge music from France this month. Last time he was here drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq was In Bed With –… Read More ›
Here are my top five recommendations (plus one) for this month: Ben Lee Quintet – young Conservatoire-grad guitarist with a band which comprises altoist Chris Young, trombonist Richard Foote, Dave Ferris on organ and Euan Palmer on drums. Ben’s original compositions… Read More ›
Here is a list of gigs across the English Midlands for the next 29 days. I don’t claim it’s comprehensive at all – these are just the gigs I know about and/or think thejazzbreakfast readers might be interested in. (Want your gig added? See… Read More ›
Here is a list of gigs across the English Midlands for the next 31 days. I don’t claim it’s comprehensive at all – these are just the gigs I know about and/or think thejazzbreakfast readers might be interested in. (Want your gig added?… Read More ›
For jazz lovers in Birmingham, 2015 was a year of increasingly strong pub gigs, a new festival and a much-heralded visit by one of jazz’s most important contemporary composers and band leaders. The contribution that the many graduates (and current… Read More ›
Review and pictures by John Watson Hexagon Theatre, mac, Birmingham, UK 02-12-2015 The content of Food has shrunk from time to time over the years… but the quality has always been maintained, and even improved. Food, with UK saxophonist Iain Ballamy… Read More ›
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