(Whirlwind Recordings) This is the follow-up to Volume 1 which the guitarist released in 2011. It’s a two disc set, the second being Price alone or playing with himself via overdubs, the first being his organ trio with Ross Stanley… Read More ›
the red lion
Magic sparks at The Red Lion tonight
A bunch of good friends together generates positive energy, when they are musicians then their interactions will be more sophisticated, and when they have some music to play that is written and arranged specially for them the interactions will become more characterful… Read More ›
Jazz singing with a Palestinian twist tonight
The acclaimed Palestinian singer Reem Kelani is performing for Birmingham Jazz this evening at The Red Lion in the Jewellery Quarter. And she is accompanied by a top-class piano trio. Reem, who was born in this country, has lived and… Read More ›
Italian pair add one and are on in Birmingham tonight
Pericopes comprises Italian pianist Alessandro Sgobbio and his compatriot saxophonist Emiliano Vernizzi. For their album, called These Human Beings, they are joined by Brooklyn drummer Nick Wight. In the Spring the trio played a European tour and now they are back… Read More ›
Trio Brasil + Mark Lockheart
The Red Lion, Birmingham UK 16-09-2016 Presented by Birmingham Jazz Review and Photographs by John Watson Huw Warren must be one of the most versatile pianists and composers on the planet. I have enjoyed his work in a huge variety of… Read More ›
Perfect Houseplants? How about an exotic hybrid?
Back in the early ’90s saxophonist Mark Lockheart, pianist/accordionist Huw Warren and bassist Dudley Phillips were three Perfect Houseplants (drummer Martin France was the fourth). Since then they have been involved in countless other bands either as leaders or sidemen. And they are… Read More ›
Paul Towndrow & Steve Hamilton – We Shine The Sun
(Keywork Records) Just an alto saxophone and a grand piano, a bunch of original tunes from each of the players and few choice ones from Jackie McLean, Charles Ives, John Scofield and Bela Bartok – sometimes keeping it simple is… Read More ›
Sean and four stir up some Fervour
Trumpeter, composer and band leader Sean Gibbs has a new group and it is peforming at The Red Lion on Friday evening. The line-up is completed by Ben Lee on guitar, Andy Bunting on piano, Nick Jurd on bass and… Read More ›
New Hansu-Tori tonight
David Austin Grey is not a man to let the grass grow under his feet. It’s only five minutes ago – or so it seems – that David was presenting a multi-arts jazz/ballet/illustration project, and his band Hansu-Tori already had a… Read More ›
JQ Jazz Legends Festival – Saturday
Words and pictures by John Watson The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham UK 21-05-2016 It’s often the case that one ambitious project in the arts world can spark valuable spin-offs. Two of the bands featured in the JQ Jazz Legends… Read More ›
Kate Williams – Four Plus Three
(kwjazz) The Three are pianist Kate Williams, double bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer David Ingamells; the Four are violinists John Garner and Marie Schreer, viola player Miguel Rodriguez and cellist Sergio Serra, better known as the Guastalla String Quartet. So,… Read More ›
Matt Ridley – the ant’s eye view
The Matt Ridley Quartet played The Red Lion in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter last Friday, courtesy of Birmingham Jazz, and photographer Garry Corbett was there, down on his knees – well, for some of the evening anyway – looking for a… Read More ›
Second Legends Festival comes to Jewellery Quarter in May
The Legends are being celebrated earlier this year. After their highly successful first Legends Festival in July last year, Birmingham Jazz is raising a glass to the great jazz players of the past a little earlier in the calendar year…. Read More ›
Mitch Perrins Quintet
Review and pictures by Garry Corbett The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham UK 26-02-2016 “Atlantic Quartet succeeds with originality, clarity and eclecticism.” So said no less an august body than the New York Times. At the Red Lion on Friday… Read More ›
Brum welcomes the world – the three-way bet you can’t lose
It’s one of those Friday nights jam-packed with delights in the Midlands’ Big Smoke tonight. Birmingham Jazz, Jazzlines and Beat City all have fine bands visiting the city and representing the fact that jazz really is a world genre. Musicians… Read More ›
JQJAZZ15 Legends Festival – Day Three
Various venues, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham UK 19-07-2015 The day began bright and early again with the second Jazz Breakfast session at the Bloc Hotel. Clearly jazz fans start later on a Sunday but the sparse audience did nothing to affect… Read More ›
Ivo Neame Quintet
Presented by Birmingham Jazz The Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham UK 12-06-2015 Pianist Ivo Neame and his band were playing the sixth and last date of a tour leading up to the release of their new album, Strata (reviewed here), on… Read More ›