Review and picture by Garry Corbett Symphony Hall, Birmingham UK 10-11-2016 The sitar in popular music has a chequered history. The 1960s of course raised its profile somewhat with the adoption of the instrument by a certain band and in… Read More ›
symphony hall
Birmingham Jazz Orchestra
Symphony Hall Stage, Birmingham UK 21-09-2016 This Jazzlines gig was also the official launch of Rough Boundaries, Birmingham Jazz Orchestra’s second album since its formation in 2014. Jacky Naylor, composer and conductor of this suite consisting of musical portraits of five… Read More ›
Birmingham Jazz Orchestra will squeeze five cities onto the Symphony Hall stage
On Wednesday evening next week Birmingham Jazz Orchestra and their audience will sit on the Symphony Hall stage. But we will all be travelling- to Moscow, Stockholm and Reykjavik up north, to Bilbao and Marrakech down south. And we’ll be… Read More ›
Jacky Naylor – September 2016
Jacky Naylor grew up in Skipton, North Yorkshire, studied piano, and won a scholarship to study at Birmingham Conservatoire’s jazz course, from which he graduated with first class honours. While at the Conservatoire he developed his interest in composition and in writing… Read More ›
Jason Rebello – Held
(Edition Records) Jason Rebello has had a busy time as a pianist, from playing with Tommy Smith when they were both the new kids on the block, to touring internationally with stadium-fillers like Sting and rock gods like Jeff Beck. After a… Read More ›
Jazz FM Awards 2016 – the runners and riders
The shortlists for this shindig – a collaboration of the Jazz FM radio station and jazz promoters Serious – have been drawn up and announced this morning. The public gets to vote in three of the categories: Album of the Year,… Read More ›
Dan Tepfer – Goldberg Variations/Variations
Symphony Hall stage 10-02-2016 The Steinway was back to front, its lid opened towards the Symphony Hall organ and an audience seated where the woodwinds, brass and percussion of the CBSO are more often found. The vast auditorium of this marvellous… Read More ›
Goldberg, Tepfer and you – this is tonight
Ever wanted to appear on the Symphony Hall stage? Well, you can this evening, though it would probably be appropriate to restrict your performance to applause, as for the first time the audience will be on stage with the performer…. Read More ›
Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
Symphony Hall, Birmingham UK 19-11-2015 Jazz doesn’t find its way into this concert hall all that often but last night it had its most fitting of jazz visitors – an orchestra of the very highest standard, led by and playing… Read More ›
Maria Schneider – November 2015
Over eight superb albums, hundreds of live performances around the world, educational work and workshops, Maria Schneider has emerged as the pre-eminent jazz composer of her generation. Through her ground-breaking independent and fan-funded way of producing her music she has as close… Read More ›
Music that costs a million but that people want for free
“…self-producing records means that I take on tremendous financial burdens… I’ve worked extremely hard on these recordings for the past 12 years… So it’s fair to say that this is about a million dollars we’re looking at. Now why in the… Read More ›
Bob Brookmeyer, the divine line and Maria Schneider
“Of course Bob’s sense of development and line is divine, and Gil’s orchestration and linearity, is also ‘beyond’. But in the end, I had to look to find my own perspective…” Maria Schneider talks about what she learned from Bob… Read More ›
Don’t let the Autumn gigs float by your window…
… those Autumn gigs of red and gold. It’s September and the jazz world has shaken the beach sand from between its toes and got back to work. There is loads to look forward to – and in many cases to… Read More ›
Maria Schneider’s band goes small for extra Birmingham date
In addition to the much-anticipated performance by the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Thursday 19 November, there is now the added bonus of a small combo gig by some of Maria’s musicians the following day… Read More ›
New Birmingham date announced for Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra will be playing in Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Thursday 19 November, it has been announced. Maria and her band of top New York players, including Donny McCaslin, Rich Perry, Frank Kimbrough and Clarence Penn,… Read More ›
John Mayall by Garry Corbett
The Blues clearly contains the elixir of, if not eternal youth, at least extended youthfulness. Here is John Mayall in action at Symphony Hall in Birmingham last night, just one stop on his 80th birthday tour. As usual, Garry says… Read More ›
Maria Schneider’s Birmingham concert postponed
We will get a chance to hear the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra in Symphony Hall one day but it won’t be on Friday 27 February 2015, alas. This is due to Maria’s revised European tour plans, I understand. THSH has… Read More ›
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