THU 28 MAR
JAZZ CANON HIGHLIGHTS
COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE VISIT
6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2
6.30pm Small Band 1 7.45pm Small Band 2 9pm Faculty concert
£8 (£6) A selection of highlights from this year’s Jazz Canon, featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and Horace Silver.
£8 (£6) The jazz department are very happy to welcome Ricardo Narváez (saxophone and percussion) and Jorge I. Sepúlveda (drums and percussion) from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. This visit is the first part of an exchange that will see members of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire jazz and percussion department making a return visit to Colombia in April 2019. Our jazz students will perform alongside Ricardo and Jorge in small bands, alongside a faculty concert with jazz visiting tutors John Turville (piano) and Mark Hodgson (bass), and on 29 March we will feature them and some traditional Colombian repertoire with our Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra! Not to be missed!
FRI 29 MAR WED 27 MAR
AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
JAMES OWSTON PRESENTS: SPLITTING THE ATOM
6.30pm Matt Holmes’s Funk Brothers 7.45pm Main Show
6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2 James Owston Nonet John O’Gallagher alto sax Dan Spirrett tenor sax Xhosa Cole baritone sax Ashton Smith trumpet
David Sear trombone David Ferris piano Steve Saunders guitar James Owston double bass Euan Palmer drums
Splitting the Atom is a new project presented by bassist and composer James Owston. The project consists of new, original compositions inspired by various theories and aspects surrounding partical and astro physics. This new band, put together specially for this music by James who was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician 2018 competition.
£15 (£12) Tonight’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra features Ricardo Narváez (saxophone and percussion) and Jorge I. Sepúlveda (drums and percussion), including guests from the previous day’s Columbian visit. Early booking is advised for this popular event.
EASTSIDE JAZZ CLUB
WHAT’S ON
TUE 26 MAR
TUE 26 FEB
WANT MORE? For full information on our upcoming gigs, including biographies and backgrounds on our esteemed line-ups, visit bcu.ac.uk/concerts Royal Birmingham Conservatoire 200 Jennens Road B4 7XR
FEBRUA RY - M A RCH ’19 0121 331 5909 | BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
WALKING DISTANCE Image credit Nico Raddatz
FOR UPDATES AND NEWS OF EASTSIDE JAZZ CLUB EXPERIENCES FOLLOW:
@BirmConsJazz
@JazzTromboneUK
Please note: Listings correct at time of going to print.
/RoyalBirmCons
@BirmConsJazz
Birmingham City University
H
ere’s another great listing of jazz events for our very own Eastside Jazz Club at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. We continue the policy of booking international guests amongst staff, graduates and students and thread the gigs through the experience of being on our jazz courses. More than a year into the life of the club, we are giving students more of a steer in the planning, now that the blueprint has been laid down. You’ll see several “student presents” nights that also work as Final Projects and a new Friday Night themed evening that we are calling African Sketchbook. Students are also selecting the repertoire for the Big Bands which has resulted in a reprise of Such Sweet Thunder for Ellington Orchestra and the “Contemporary Brits” theme for Jazz Orchestra.
SAT 2 FEB
FLAMENCO NIGHT WITH DANIEL MARTINEZ AND HIS TROUPE 9.30pm £12 (£10) As part of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Guitar Festival 2019, Daniel Martinez graces the Jazz Club with his flamboyant, flamenco music.
FRI 8 FEB
6.30pm Support: Steve Saunders 7.45pm Main Show
Ellington Orchestra
EMERGING DIRECTORS
A collaboration from two up-and-coming groups, The Hockley Folk and the Cornish band Contours, formed by a selection of students from conservatoires across the UK. Expect sublime folky covers of your favourite songs alongside some progrock, jazz and folk infused originals.
£15 (£12)
£13 Tickets available from www.thsh.co.uk
FRI 1 FEB
£10 (£8) £4 Students
6.30pm DJ set 7.30pm Live bands 8.45pm DJ Set 9.15pm Township bands
TIN MEN AND THE TELEPHONE
Jeremy Price Head of Jazz, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
7.30pm
AFRICAN SKETCHBOOK
THU 7 FEB
We’re also working on the feel of the club with the start of an exhibition from the National Jazz Archive, providing some colour and warmth to the decor, and on some nights we have some big settees to flop onto! So do come down and join our ever increasing audience and enjoy some fantastic music with us in this great new venue for Birmingham.
CONTOURS + THE HOCKLEY FOLK
Tin Men and the Telephone
MON 4 FEB
ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA: SUCH SWEET THUNDER 6.30pm Repertoire selection 7.30pm Such Sweet Thunder £8 (£6) A reprise of Duke Ellington’s Such Sweet Thunder which was our first ever theme of repertoire to open Eastside Jazz Club in 2017.
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
Tony Roe piano and electronics Jamie Peet drums Pat Cleaver bass
A new themed night for Eastside Jazz Club, off the back of our ever popular Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, where we celebrate music from across the African diaspora. Expect everything from Township to Reggae and Hi-Life to Afrobeat.
After an amazing and thoroughly entertaining residency in November, Amsterdam-based trio, Tin Men and the Telephone return to Eastside Jazz Club.
TUE 12 FEB
Immerse yourself in a participatory performance where random words become lyrics and everyday sounds become melodies, as performers create compositions in real-time based on your suggestions. Download the Tinmendo app and arrive armed with a fully-charged smartphone to get involved in this exciting, multi-faceted performance with the highlyacclaimed Tin Men and the Telephone.
JAZZ CANON: THE MUSIC OF JOE HENDERSON 6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2 £8 (£6) Tonight our jazz combos celebrate the music of legendary improviser and band leader for Blue Note, Joe Henderson.
“A 21st-century gig in which multimedia gadgetry and a sense of mischief combined to create something fresh and unexpected. Roe and his friends were reminding us — in captivating style — that jazz can be fun and profound at the same time.” ***** The Times (Ronnie Scott’s 2017)
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
TUE 26 FEB
WALKING DISTANCE
Sara Colman
THU 28 FEB
6.30pm Support
SARA COLMAN: WHAT WE’RE MADE OF
7.45pm Main Show Ari Hoenig
James Romaine
THU 14 FEB
WED 20 FEB
ARI HOENIG TRIO
JAMES ROMAINE PRESENTS
6.30pm Support: Aidan Pope 7.45pm Main Show
6.30pm SWIM 7.45pm J.A.R. Collective
£15 (£12)
£8 (£6)
Ari Hoenig is one of the jazz world’s most respected and innovative drummers. A prolific bandleader and sideman, he has appeared on over a hundred recordings and worked with a diverse spectrum of artists including Wayne Krantz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman and Chris Potter. Ari is joined tonight by guitarist Tom Ollendorff and bassist Conor Chaplin.
SWIM Shivraj Singh double bass James Romaine alto saxophone Steve Saunders guitar Kai Chareunsy drums
“A disconcerting phenomenon of the drums” Jazzman magazine
MON 18 FEB
JAZZ ORCHESTRA: CONTEMPORARY BRITS 6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2 £8 (£6) Our Jazz Orchestra presents a variety of work from British jazz composers on the contemporary scene, including Gareth Lochcrane, Ed Puddick, Tom Haines, Hans Koller and Paul Booth.
James Romaine will be presenting two newly formed young Jazz groups in this exciting night of new music. The J.A.R. Collective is a new project spearheaded by saxophonist, James Romaine. It will showcase original compositions and arrangements influenced by a plethora of jazz and classical composers both past and present. SWIM is a new quartet lead by bassist, Shivraj Singh and features some of Birmingham’s best young aspiring jazz musicians.
FRI 22 FEB
AFRO CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA 6.30pm Support: Matt Holmes’s Funk Brothers 7.45pm Main Show £15 (£12) A night of salsa music for dancing! Early booking is advised for this popular event.
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
6.30pm Support: Liam Brenan 7.45pm Main Show
£12 (£10) Caleb Wheeler Curtis alto saxophone Kenny Pexton tenor saxophone Adam Coté double bass Shawn Baltazor drums
£12 (£10)
Brooklyn based quartet, Walking Distance present a combination of virtuoso performance with sonic storytelling, music that retains the tonality and feel of acoustic jazz even as it sets a new standard for the sound of a jazz records.
Sara Colman and her extraordinary band make their debut at Eastside Jazz Club. They perform music from her recently released album, What We’re Made Of and specially arranged songs celebrating the 75th birthday of Joni Mitchell. This 10 piece ensemble features Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumni and professors, including Rebecca Nash, Percy Pursglove, Ben Markland and Jonathan Silk with a string and vocal quintet.
“Striking songs, saturated with jazz …. considerable musicality and a modern jazz sensibility” London Jazz News
FRI 1 MAR John Turville Quintet
SLAVIC FANTASY! AN EVENING OF BALKAN BRASS
WED 27 FEB
JOHN TURVILLE QUINTET FEATURING JULIAN ARGÜELLES
7pm
EMERGING DIRECTORS
£5 - £10 plus booking fee
6.30pm Support: Lewis Sallows 7.45pm Main Show £12 (£10) Taking inspiration from John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler, tango pianist Diego Schissi, and imbued with a deep love of the tradition, John Turville’s writing is refined and wide-ranging, from lyrical ballads and spiky rhythmic compositions to reflective classical vignettes and free jazz.
James Romaine alto saxophone Alex Leach and Ashton Smith trumpet Charlie Denney and Toby Carr trombone James Hobbis sousaphone Matt Holmes drums Experience the exciting music of the Balkans! Come along and enjoy a selection of Balkan folk songs, jazz standards and pop classics, all with a Slavic twist!
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
WED 20 MAR
MON 4 MAR
FRI 8 MAR
ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA: SUCH SWEET THUNDER
AFRICAN SKETCHBOOK
OLIVIA MURPHY PRESENTS: THE VIRGIL SUITE
7.30pm Live bands 8.45pm DJ Set 9.15pm Township bands
6.30pm Support 7.30pm Main Show
6.30pm Repertoire selection 7.30pm Such Sweet Thunder £8 (£6)
WED 6 MAR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WES! 6.30pm Set 1 7.45pm Set 2 £8 (£6) Joe Steels Trio Joe Steels guitar Ross Stanley hammond organ Matt Homes drums A celebration of what would be Wes Montgomery’s 96th Birthday, playing many of Wes’s own compositions as well as some of his favourite standards.
THU 7 MAR
TOM DUNNETT SEXTET 6.30pm Support: Shivraj Singh 7.45pm Main Show £10 (£8) Tom Dunnett trombone James Copus trumpet Chris Maddock tenor sax Chris Eldred keys Joe Downard bass Will Glaser drums The Tom Dunnett Sextet is a newly formed ensemble featuring exciting young talent playing original music. The three front line of trombone, tenor and trumpet provide a great platform for composition drawing on influences that embrace the likes of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Dave Holland and Chris Potter.
Drew Gress
£8 (£6)
£12 (£10)
THU 14 MAR
A new themed night for Eastside Jazz Club where we celebrate music from across the African diaspora. Expect anything from Township to Reggae and Hi-Life to Afrobeat.
MERIDIAN QUARTET FEAT. DREW GRESS
SUN 10 MAR
ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE JAZZ ORCHESTRA: CONTEMPORARY BRITS INCLUDING THE DANKWORTH AND EDDIE HARVEY AWARDS 6.30pm £15 (£12) Continuing our theme of celebrating composers and arrangers of the here and now, our Jazz Orchestra is delighted to present this concert to host the Dankworth and Eddie Harvey Awards 2019. The awards are administered and funded by The Musicians’ Company with the support of The Wavendon Foundation and friends THE MUSICIANS’ COM PANY and family of Eddie Harvey.
6.30pm Student bands led by Drew Gress 7.45pm Main Show £15 (£12) Jim Bashford drums and composition John O’Gallagher alto sax Liam Noble piano Drew Gress bass The music is based on life experiences that resonate through time and the relationship of Wing Chun Kung Fu and the Meridians of the body that can be used to control all emotions, power and decisions in the improvisation of everyday life. All compositions by Jim Bashford.
FRI 15 MAR
JOE SPINOZA PRESENTS: I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO, A BIG BAND HOMAGE TO THE RECORDINGS OF TONY BENNETT 6.30pm Support 7.45pm Main Show £6
JAZZ CANON: THE MUSIC OF JOE HENDERSON
MON 18 MAR
£8 (£6) Tonight our jazz combos celebrate the music of legendary improviser and bandleader for Blue Note, Joe Henderson.
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS
The debut performance of composer and saxophonist Olivia Murphy’s suite of music based on Virgil’s Aeneid. As well as telling the story of the epic poem, the music draws inspiration from jazz composer greats such Mike Gibbs, Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider. Olivia’s Almost Big Band features 12 of some of the strongest musicians in the Birmingham jazz scene and beyond.
Steve Fishwick
TUE 12 MAR
6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2
Olivia Murphy Almost Big Band Olivia Murphy compositions/saxophone, James Romaine saxophone, Dan Spirrett saxophone, Alicia Gardener-Trejo saxophone, Percy Pursglove trumpet, Gareth Howell trumpet, Richard Foote trombone, Dave Sear trombone, Rebecca Wilkins voice, Francis Tulip guitar, Stella Roberts piano, James Owston bass, Jim Bashford drums
EMERGING DIRECTORS
STEVE FISHWICK/ALEX GARNET QUINTET 6.30pm Support: Tommy Fuller 7.45pm Main Show
JAZZ ORCHESTRA: CONTEMPORARY BRITS 6.30pm Set 1 7.30pm Set 2 £8 (£6) Our Jazz Orchestra presents a variety of work from British jazz composers on the contemporary scene, including Gareth Lochcrane, Ed Puddick, Tom Haines, Hans Koller and Paul Booth.
THU 21 MAR
Steve Fishwick trumpet/flugelhorn Alex Garnett alto saxophone Michael Karn bass Matt Fishwick drums This quartet rekindles a project begun 15 years ago. The group is chord-less a la Kenny Dorham and Ernie Henry... plus many others like Mulligan, Ornett Coleman, Sonny Rollins etc, and is revisiting hard bop flavoured original tunes written for the group featured on their new vinyl release Marshian Time Slip.
FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS