Birmingham Jazz
Encyclopedia
Birmingham Jazz is a voluntary, non-profit organisation responsible for promoting and commissioning some of the most exciting jazz and related contemporary music in the UK.
has been Chairman of Birmingham Jazz since 1992.
Mary Wakelam has been a part-time administrative officer for Birmingham Jazz since 2004.
Tony and Mary are supported by a committee of unpaid board members. The Birmingham Jazz board includes professional musicians, teachers, amateur musicians and jazz enthusiasts of a wide variety of tastes.
Beginning as a conventional regional ‘jazz society’ in 1976, Birmingham Jazz evolved into a multi-faceted cultural entity of broad scope and national significance. The activities of Birmingham Jazz can be categorised under three main headings: Entertaining, Education and Embracing.
The Birmingham Jazz programme is noted for its eclectic nature – mixing contemporary jazz with classical music, folk, world musics and urban and hip-hop based jazz.
Birmingham Jazz use a variety of venues in the central Birmingham area, including: Symphony Hall
, the CBSO Centre
, The Jam House, mac
and the Medicine Bar
, ArtsFest
, The Rainbow in Digbeth, as well as The Glee Club
and The Drum.
With mac, Birmingham Jazz have organised Weekend Schools from 1991. Tutors included teachers from the Guildhall School of Music and the Glamorgan Summer Schools, as well as teachers from the Birmingham Conservatoire
In 2003 / 4 Birmingham Jazz co-operated with Sound it Out to present their first community-based education project. This was with students from Hampstead Hall and Hodge Hill Schools.
The next year, Ways into Improvisation was expanded to include Holyhead Secondary and Grestone Primary Schools. Out of these projects came a new band ‘The Void’, which has also performed in front of Birmingham Jazz audiences
With visiting artists, Birmingham Jazz have organised master classes at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Masterclass leaders have included Michael Brecker
, Joe Lovano and Dave Holland
.
Many Conservatoire Jazz Course students give their first public performance for Birmingham Jazz.
Besides bringing different forms and mixes of contemporary musics, cultures and audiences together musically, the Birmingham Jazz ticket pricing policy is intended to bring contemporary jazz to the widest possible audience. Regular free entry performances have been part of the organisation’s programme since 1985.
Birmingham Jazz brings together what is probably the most diverse range of artists and audiences than any other arts organisation in the region, or even the country.
, The Arts Council, The Lottery Arts Fund, and other partners and fund providers.
Organisation
Tony Dudley-EvansTony Dudley-Evans
Tony Dudley-Evans is a British linguist and expert in English for Specific Purposes. One of the most influential authors in the development of the modern notion of genre, he is usually grouped together with John Swales and Vijay Bhatia as the driving force behind recent developments in ESP...
has been Chairman of Birmingham Jazz since 1992.
Mary Wakelam has been a part-time administrative officer for Birmingham Jazz since 2004.
Tony and Mary are supported by a committee of unpaid board members. The Birmingham Jazz board includes professional musicians, teachers, amateur musicians and jazz enthusiasts of a wide variety of tastes.
Chronology
- 1976: The Birmingham Jazz Society presents its first gig.
- 1979: Birmingham Jazz brings CMN tours to Birmingham for the first time.
- 1985: Birmingham Jazz begin presenting regular, paid gigs for local musicians.
- 1989: Birmingham Jazz awards its first commission to Mike Gibbs.
- 1991: Birmingham Jazz first involved in educational projects.
- 1991: WBirmingham Jazz began presenting The Series in partnership with BCMG.
- 1993: The Series wins the prestigious Prudential Award.
- 1993: Birmingham Jazz starts collaboration with SAMPAD
- 1996: Birmingham Jazz wins the Foundation for Sports and Arts Award.
- 1999: Birmingham Jazz wins the PRS & Jazz Services Promoter Award.
- 2004: Sound It Out, the first community project organised by Birmingham Jazz.
- 2005: With Symphony Hall, Birmingham Jazz presents Birmingham’s first World Jazz Weekend.
Beginning as a conventional regional ‘jazz society’ in 1976, Birmingham Jazz evolved into a multi-faceted cultural entity of broad scope and national significance. The activities of Birmingham Jazz can be categorised under three main headings: Entertaining, Education and Embracing.
Entertaining
Birmingham Jazz presents music of the highest quality across the entire spectrum of contemporary jazz. This includes artists of international and national standing as well as some of the best musicians in the region.The Birmingham Jazz programme is noted for its eclectic nature – mixing contemporary jazz with classical music, folk, world musics and urban and hip-hop based jazz.
Birmingham Jazz use a variety of venues in the central Birmingham area, including: Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by the Queen in June 1991, although had been opened on April 15, 1991. It is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hosts around 270 events...
, the CBSO Centre
CBSO Centre
The CBSO Centre is the administrative home and rehearsal centre of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Choruses , and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group on the corner of Berkley Street and Holliday Street, in Birmingham, England.It...
, The Jam House, mac
Mac (Birmingham)
mac is a non-profit arts centre situated in Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It was established in 1962 and is registered as an educational charity which host plays, concerts and films shows; and holds art exhibitions, music classes, and workshops for all ages.The centre re-opened...
and the Medicine Bar
Medicine Bar
The Medicine Bar in Birmingham, England started as a collaboration in the 1990s between the London Medicine bar and local hip hop DJ 'Simon Fat Head', who began his career at the legendary 'Brothers and Sisters' at the 'Coast to Coast' club on Broad Street....
, ArtsFest
ArtsFest
ArtsFest is an annual arts festival held in September in Birmingham, England.Since 1997 ArtsFest has brought together free short demonstrations of dance, music, film and theatre to concert halls, theatres, and open-air stages in various parts of central Birmingham...
, The Rainbow in Digbeth, as well as The Glee Club
Glee Club (comedy club)
The Glee Club is a small chain of live stand-up comedy and live music venues in the UK.The first Glee Club was opened by Mark Tughan in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter in 1994, the first dedicated comedy club to open in the United Kingdom outside London....
and The Drum.
Educating
Birmingham Jazz has created a performance-based ethos where musicians, audiences and promoters are learning all the time.With mac, Birmingham Jazz have organised Weekend Schools from 1991. Tutors included teachers from the Guildhall School of Music and the Glamorgan Summer Schools, as well as teachers from the Birmingham Conservatoire
In 2003 / 4 Birmingham Jazz co-operated with Sound it Out to present their first community-based education project. This was with students from Hampstead Hall and Hodge Hill Schools.
The next year, Ways into Improvisation was expanded to include Holyhead Secondary and Grestone Primary Schools. Out of these projects came a new band ‘The Void’, which has also performed in front of Birmingham Jazz audiences
With visiting artists, Birmingham Jazz have organised master classes at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Masterclass leaders have included Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, Joe Lovano and Dave Holland
Dave Holland
Dave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....
.
Many Conservatoire Jazz Course students give their first public performance for Birmingham Jazz.
Policy
Birmingham Jazz’s policy recognises no barriers – between musics, artists or audiencesBesides bringing different forms and mixes of contemporary musics, cultures and audiences together musically, the Birmingham Jazz ticket pricing policy is intended to bring contemporary jazz to the widest possible audience. Regular free entry performances have been part of the organisation’s programme since 1985.
Birmingham Jazz brings together what is probably the most diverse range of artists and audiences than any other arts organisation in the region, or even the country.
Support
Birmingham City CouncilBirmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
, The Arts Council, The Lottery Arts Fund, and other partners and fund providers.