Booker T
The Mostly Jazz Festival, now extended to three days following a successful debut last year, has announced its full line-up. Headed by legendary organist Booker T, with the Matthew Herbert Big Band and the Cinematic Orchestra also topping the bill, the festival takes place in Birmingham’s Moseley Park on the 1st-3rd July 2011.
Friday 1st July – The Cinematic Orchestra will be playing their only UK date of the summer. Formed in the late 1990s by Jason Swiscoe, their electronic, improvisational music has been widely used for TV credits and adverts.
Saturday 2nd July is headlined by the Matthew Herbert Big Band, bringing the genre up to date with electronic equipment and sampling everyday objects.
Sunday 3rd July sees Grammy Award winning bona-fide soul/blues/jazz icon Booker T headlining.
The festival bill isn’t just about the headliners, though, and BBC Radio DJs Craig Charles and Gilles Peterson will also be heavily involved. On Friday, Gilles will be introducing some of his favourite contemporary acts including soulful songstress Alice Russell, German electronic jazz trio Brandt Brauer Frick, the instrumentals of Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra as well a blistering set from Birmingham’s own Sam Redmore. Sunday will be transformed into the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club. Craig will be bringing along Smoove & Turrell for their first live band performance in Birmingham and the modern Afrobeat of the Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra.
There will also be Main Stage performances from eighties jazz-funkers Pigbag, Brassroots, Milestones playing Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue in full, Hidden Orchestra, Manouche, Andy Hamilton & the Bluenotes, Matthew Halsall and Beats & Pieces Big Band.
Elsewhere at the festival the likes of Oya Batucada, Atlantic Players, Sara Colman Quintet, Lluis Mather & Noose, Levi French Trio and Steve Tromans Debop Band will be pleasing the crowds.
Once again there will be two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2010 Birmingham Jazz and The Yardbird will be helping to curate the second stage. Taking the reins on Friday will be local promoters Leftfoot, who have curated both stages.
For more information about The Mostly Jazz Festival and the full line-up please visit www.mostlyjazz.co.uk.
A free festival launch party featuring Matthew Halsall and a DJ set from Sam Redmore will take place on Thursday 14 April at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, 8-11.30pm.
