Celebrating the work of Miles Davis and friends.
Birmingham Jazz has a long history of promoting contemporary jazz over the last 39 years. Now, from 17th-19th July they will be organising their first festival, promoting thirteen bands over three days as part of the Jewellery Quarter Arts Weekend.
The festival celebrates the massive legacy of Miles Davis and some of his contemporaries. Miles Davis first gained fame in the 1940’s as part of Charlie Parker’s Quintet and later experimented with the Cool Jazz approach. In the following decade he started leading his own groups, shaping the styles that became known as Hard Bop and later still the path to Modal Jazz and Jazz Fusion.
This festival is curated by a British legend in his own right, Henry Lowther. As Henry would say about Miles, “he also plays the trumpet” such was his influence on the world of jazz. At one session on the final day of the festival, Henry will be reflecting on his knowledge of Miles, on meeting him and on working with Gil Evans, his best known collaborator. The programme also includes works by many of the legendary musicians associated with Miles Davis and the eras he worked in: Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Bill Evans and Horace Silver.
Over the three days there will be thirteen sessions, featuring a variety of bands. well as Henry there are some other great legends and also a great line-up of younger local musicians. For the full line up, dates, times and venues, visit www.birminghamjazz.co.uk