BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL 2017

01-2017-JANUARY-V03-WATERCOLOR

Schedule 2017

DAY 1

Friday | 28 July 2017

WELCOME SPEECH

WELCOME SPEECH
by Festival Curator – Lekan Babalola

6:30PM

OPENING PRAYER

Opening Prayer By Father Bob

6:45PM

OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL

Declaration and Opening Of The Festival & Introduction of The First Performance By
Dorrette Hanson

6:45PM

HANDSWORTH COMMUNITY CHOIR

The Handsworth Community Choir has been through several exciting incarnations since it originally started in 2013 with Matt Beckingham at the helm accompanied by James Keefe. It started as an initiative between the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, (BSMHFT) and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, (CBSO). The CBSO was then supported by Perry Barr Arts Forum to work with the choir. The choir is now a constituted voluntary group with it’s own committee.  The choir have occasionally used their skills to build mutually beneficial relationships with people in the community such as university students wishing to research benefits of choirs.

To find out more, visit: http://www.handsworthcommunitychoir.org.uk

7:00PM

BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE JAZZ GROUP


Students from the Jazz Course at Birmingham Conservatoire present their own Concert. The primary aim of the Jazz Department is to create a stimulating and inspiring culture for jazz musicians. As well as nurturing individual development, we place a great deal of emphasis on artistic exchange between students and staff, both within the Conservatoire and on the wider public stage: from local venues to international festivals.

8:10PM

KATE LUXMOORE GROUP

Described by Songlines as “an accomplished clarinettist, with a velveteen tone and lithe style of playing” and as “a player with a big English sound” ( Jazz Spot/Telegraph) Kate brings her interests in folk, jazz and classical music to her arranging and composing for The Kate Luxmoore Group.
Tonight’s concert is a re-imagining of the English songs she heard growing up in the West Country, which were collected in Somerset in the 1900’s by Rev Charles Marson and transcribed by Cecil Sharpe. These songs tell great stories as well as providing rich melodies through which Kate explores the diversity of the clarinet and bass clarinet.
She is joined by Richard Adey – Accordion, Sebastiano Dessanay – Bass and Lekan Babalola – Percussion.

www.kateluxmoore.com

9:00PM - 10:15PM

HANSU TORI FEATURING DAVID A. GREY


Hansu-Tori: Amidst A Swarm Of Butterflies
The Korean term ‘Hansu’ means ‘water‘. “A drop of water gathering to make an ocean”. Specifically, Hansu represents strength, flexibility, harmony and water as the source of life. ‘Tori’ is the Japanese word for ‘bird‘. It can be thought to represent freedom and grace.
‘Amidst A Swarm Of Butterflies’ is an entirely new set of music drawing heavily from the range of human emotions and exploring the metaphor of ‘having butterflies’. Amidst a swarm of butterflies = being completely surrounded by, and at times overwhelmed by your own emotions.
This new project from Hansu-Tori is a blend of contemporary jazz, classical music and electronica. The room for exploration in the compositions allows a freedom to move away from the focus of a classic piano trio line-up, and also provides opportunity for augmentation with audio recordings and vocal samples.
Hansu-Tori have been featured on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio WM, BBC Radio Scotland and Jazz FM. They have also recorded live for BBC Radio 3 & BBC Introducing.
David Austin Grey: Piano
Keyboard/Synths/Electronics
Nick Jurd: Double Bass/Electric Bass
James Bashford: Drum Kit

www.davidaustingrey.com

 

9:00PM - 10:15PM

DAY 2

Saturday | 29 July 2017

BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL

SHIVRAJ SINGH

Shivraj Singh is a bass player originally from Smethwick who came through the Jazzlines Summer School and Ensemble programme. He is now studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, having just completed his 2nd year.

8:10PM

CHRISTOS STYLIANIDES' QUARTET

Scottish trumpet player Christos Stylianides’ Quintet is a group which focuses on the contemporary while still being able to draw from the tradition of jazz. They take inspiration from a range of artists across different genres, from free jazz to folk music, and act as an outlet for original music.

9:00PM - 10:15PM

ETUK UBONG HIGHLIFE WORKSHOP

Born and raised in Lagos, trumpeter Etuk Ubong (24) first started playing music at the age of 14 and studied under Etop Adolphors and Victor Ademofe. He is currently enrolled for a performer’s diploma in jazz studies at the University of Cape Town and studied jazz at the Peter King College of Music, and classical music at the Muson School of Music in Lagos. Ubong has performed with world-renowned musicians including Victor Olaiya, Femi Kuti, the Gangbé Brass Band, Pat Harbison, Ansyn Banks, Nduduzo Makhathini and many more. He played at the The Lagos Jazz Festival 2015, the Abuja Jazz Festival 2015 and in the On Mass project headed by Jamie Cullum as part of the London Jazz Festival. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild and represented Africa at its 2015 conference in Columbus. In South Africa he regularly performs at top live jazz venues like The Crypt, Straight No Chaser, The Orbit and was featured as soloist in the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival 2016.

9:00PM - 10:15PM

FESTIVAL Q&A

Shivraj Singh is a bass player originally from Smethwick who came through the Jazzlines Summer School and Ensemble programme. He is now studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, having just completed his 2nd year.

8:10PM

MILTON GODFREY


Milton Godfrey is known as a composer and performer of music that focuses on some of the roots of African, Caribbean and African/American traditional sources, including gospel and soul. For this performance, he will be playing Jamaican and other Caribbean music from early 1950’s-70’s, traditional as well as secular.
His experience over many years has included ‘Reflections of a Journey’ Town Hall and Central TV,1989 a musical. ‘The history of Reggae music’ Symphony Hall, writer and performer 2005, with Basil Gabidon from Steel Pulse, ‘Nights in Darkness’ Melodrama, with music. Rep Studio Theatre 1994, writer and composer, Sister Baptiste’ A satirical religious comedy, Adrian Boult Hall,1999, writer, composer and performer.

9:00PM - 10:15PM

AFRICAN ROOTS FUSION


African Roots Fusion perform music rooted in traditional Gambian and Fulani songs from it’s founding players, guitarist Gabriel Prom and violinist Juldeh Camara. It’s constantly changing mix of African, Afro-Caribbean and British influences represent the different personnel that have collaborated with them over time. This performance will feature a rhythm section of Momodou Darboe on bass and fellow Gambian Ngagge Sohna on djembe. Add founder members Gabriel Prom and Phil Jones on guitars and vocals, a little Gambian magic and we have the recipe for some musical delights!

9:00PM - 10:15PM

SEBASTIANO DESSANAY TRIO

Sebastiano Dessanay is an Italian double bassist and composer. His music is highly informed by a strong sense of melody and attention to textural details. Sebastiano has released two albums Songbook Volume One and Two for the independent F-IRE label, and he will be presenting a selection of tunes from these, as well as some new compositions. He is accompanied by Mark Pringle on piano and James Bashford on drums.

For more info visit:
www.sebastianodessanay.com

8:10PM

OPEN JAM SESSION

9:00PM - 10:15PM

DAY 3

Sunday | 30 July 2017

BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL

THE BIRCHFIELD BIG LOCAL ACTIVITIES START @ THE BOATHOUSE

Shivraj Singh is a bass player originally from Smethwick who came through the Jazzlines Summer School and Ensemble programme. He is now studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, having just completed his 2nd year.

8:10PM

LEKAN BABALOLA CAJON WORKSHOP

Twice Grammy award winning Nigerian percussionist, Lekan Babalola, is well known for his innovative musical style, using his native Yoruba tongue infused with traditional music, Afrobeat and funky dance overtones. Come and join him to play some raw funk on the Cajon –

Cajon’s sponsored by www.soarvalleymusic.co.uk
www.lekanbabalola.com

9:00PM - 10:15PM

LIVE MUSIC WITH ABSOLUTE BRASS

African Roots Fusion perform music rooted in traditional Gambian and Fulani songs from it’s founding players, guitarist Gabriel Prom and violinist Juldeh Camara. It’s constantly changing mix of African, Afro-Caribbean and British influences represent the different personnel that have collaborated with them over time. This performance will feature a rhythm section of Momodou Darboe on bass and fellow Gambian Ngagge Sohna on djembe. Add founder members Gabriel Prom and Phil Jones on guitars and vocals, a little Gambian magic and we have the recipe for some musical delights!

9:00PM - 10:15PM

STORYTELLING WITH PYN STOCKMAN

“I love working with stories. Each one is an adventure containing treasure, truth and magic. Stories are a way to understand ourselves and make sense of the world around us. You can see some of my recent Adventures in Storytelling by visiting my blog.”

www.pynstockman.com

8:10PM

OPEN JAM SESSION

9:00PM - 10:15PM