Schedule 2018
FATHER BOB STEPHENS
Festival opened by Father Bob Stephens
6:30PM
HANDSWORTH COMMUNITY CHOIR
Delighting audiences since 2013, this sensational choir have showcased their outstanding singing abilities at everything from local community events to large prestigious concerts at venues such as the Birmingham Symphony Hall and the city’s Town Hall.
To find out more, visit: http://www.handsworthcommunitychoir.org.uk
6:45PM
BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE AFRO CUBAN BAND
Highly respected artists in their field, these compelling musicians come not only from the UK but also from the USA and Europe which gives a real breadth and depth to the range of jazz music you’re likely to hear.
To find out more, visit: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/music/
departments/jazz
7:30PM
MELODY
MADUORIE-JONES
TRIO
Melody Maduorie-Jones launched her solo Jazz vocalist career in 2017 with ‘A Sacred Space Concert’ which included special guests. Joe Seager wrote. ‘Melody, fully expresses a gift for bringing her own distinctive style and emotive effect to tunes from her favourite song-book. She drew on some songs drawn from versions made famous by jazz stars such as Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Her tender heart-felt take of George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ was a particular highlight’
Melody will be accompanied by Leon Small on drums and Samuel Lewis on Keyboard.Melody, performs regularly at local events including with three choirs.
8:30PM
LOUIS CAMPBELL POET
Details Shortly.
9:15PM
MILTON GODFREY PROJECT WITH THE BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE
Milton Godfrey is widely known as a multi-talented composer and performer of music with a focus on African, Caribbean, African/American roots, along with gospel and soul.
At this year’s festival, Milton will be performing Jamaican and Caribbean music taken from the early 1950’s to 1970’s, with a focus on traditional as well as secular.
Milton’s experience has spanned many years and has included projects such as ‘Reflections of a Journey’ based at Birmingham Town Hall and televised on Central TV; the ‘History of Reggae Music’ musical as performed at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall; writing and performing with Steel Pulse’s Basil Gabidon in 2005; 1994’s ‘Nights in Darkness’ melodrama with music at Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre; writing and composing of ‘Sister Baptiste’ a satirical religious comedy at the Adrian Boult Hall in 1999 and writing, composing and performing of the album ‘Take Me Back’.
9:30PM
DAY 2
SATURDAY 28TH JULY 2018
BIRCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL
THE ‘RE-IMAGINING BIRCHFIELD’ - YOUNG PEOPLE’S ARTS PROJECT
Following elders within the Birchfield community having been given a much-needed voice through the telling of their stories (see above), we also wanted to give young people (aged between 8 – 12 years) a unique opportunity to interpret these compelling tales through a number of creative, thought provoking, exciting and educational ways.
Using drama, storytelling, writing, songs, rap, visual art, film and photography to explore the essence of these stories, we have a delightfully talented group of young people ready to present all they’ve learnt whilst taking an interest in their wider community, their elders, their history and the surroundings they inhabit.
4:30PM
EMERGING ARTISTS SUPPORTED BY THSH JAZZLINES
Jazzlines is a unique programme of creative jazz music and Talent Development initiatives based within Performances Birmingham Limited (PBL), the charity that runs Town Hall and Symphony Hall.
It offers performance opportunities to emerging and established contemporary jazz musicians as part of a thriving, artistically excellent programme in venues across the city –
be sure to catch some these talented musicians at this years festival.
To find out more, visit: https://www.thsh.co.uk/whats-on/org/jazzlines
6:15PM
HEAVY BEAT BRASS BAND
Heavy Beat Brass Band are the UK’s newest New Orleans style brass band. Remixing modern Jazz and Pop with the sounds of a roaring Mardi Gras Band, this is definitely a band you don’t want to miss!
To find out more, visit;
Facebook: @HBbrass
Twitter: @HeavyBeatBrass
YouTube: https://youtu.be/FUcOlHxMW40
Bandcamp:
https://heavybeatbrassband.bandcamp
.com/releases
7:15PM
JIM BASHFORD TRIO
Jim Bashford hails from the Midlands, started playing drums aged 10 and was influenced by the rock/progressive and jazz scenes worldwide. Mainly self-taught for the first 6 years, he then studied drums under Steve Palmer.
Jim is a member of no less than 20 different ensembles and tours extensively throughout the UK and Europe, having made appearances at various London Jazz venues such as the Barbican Centre, The Vortex and Kings Place. He has also performed at prestigious international Jazz festivals including the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and the Juan le pins Jazz Festival. Jim has worked with a diverse range of artists such as Drew Gress, Liam Noble, Omar, Dave Sinclair, Katie Melua and Illspokin. A very much in demand artist not to be missed!
To find out more, visit;
Facebook: @ConstructionBand
Twitter: @Bashbatterie
Website:
http://jimbashford.co.uk
8:15PM
LEKAN BABALOLA, YORUBA SONNETS
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. In addition to being a talented musician, Lekan has also undertaken education work as part of his artistic programme and has on-going relationships both in the UK, USA, Europe, Caribbean and Africa as a percussionist, art curator tutor, band leader / composer and producer.
LEKAN BABALOLA, YORUBA SONNETS
Dr Olu Taiwo is Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at the University of Winchester. He has worked on identity and performance and is a well-established performer using digital technologies. He is engaged with critical debates around the interaction of body, technology and the environment.
Together, Lekan and Olu will bring to the stage the ‘Yoruba Sonnets’ – a unique experience, presented by two very talented, very different individuals.
To find out more, visit;
Facebook: Olalekan Babalola
Twitter: @LekanBabalola / @drtaiwo
Websites: www.lekanbabalola.com /
https://www.winchester.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-and-governance/staff-directory/staff-profiles/taiwo.php
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cKkbL5L9aY
