Gillespie and Atzmon, Biscoe and Kofi kick off the new Birmingham Jazz programme

Jazz fans throughout the Midlands have been waiting to see what the next move for long-time promoter Birmingham Jazz will be. Well this is it. Birmingham Jazz will be trying out two new venues this spring with two cracking gigs showcasing some of the best talent in British Jazz.

First off will be old-time jazz haunt The Bartons Arms in Aston with singer-songwriter Sarah Gillespie and Gilad Atzmon on reeds featuring their War on Trevor project, on Friday, June 1^st starting at 7.45pm.

Next will be the hard-blowing saxophone teaming of Chris Biscoe and Tony Kofi, with Larry Bartley on bass and Stu Butterfield on drums, playing music by Eric Dolphy. This time in the more intimate surroundings of The Red Lion, Warstone Lane in the Jewellery Quarter on Friday 29^th June, again starting at 7.45pm.

Birmingham Jazz chairman, Nigel Holt, said: ‘We’re keen to re-establish a genuine ‘jazz club’ atmosphere to present the best in national-name performers. We think these venues offer a great opportunity to do that until we find a ‘home’ for our regular gigs.”

Birmingham Jazz is now operating entirely on the enthusiasm of its members and a determination to be an independent voice for jazz in Birmingham and the Midlands. It doesn’t have financial support from the City of Birmingham or the Arts Council.

Nigel continues: “So come along, show your support for live jazz and maybe get involved in making it happen – just as Birmingham Jazz has been doing for over thirty years!”