Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 12th
This is the one you’ve all been waiting for! The line-up is now 170 performances with 157 of them free.
Tenor sax star Art Themen joins the All Star Jam Session at The Botanical Gardens on Thursday 9th July at 7pm, with Digby Fairweather, Enrico Tomasso, Robert Fowler, Mark Nightingale, Ian Bateman, Jim Hart, David Newton, Dave Green, Ralph Salmins and acclaimed vocalist Val Wiseman. Tickets for this celebration of 25 years of the Jazz Festival, price £10, are available from 0121 454 1860. Star City is the venue for some fantastic free concerts including The Kenny Ball Jazzmen at 7pm, July 3rd, The Alan Price Set 7pm, July 4th, and leading U.S. funkster Pee Wee Ellis 7pm, July 5th.
The hot news of the day is the signing of the sensational gypsy swing combo from Eindhoven, Holland, The Nomy Rosenberg Trio (see picture of Nomy). For full programme pick up a brochure from B’ham Central Library or any festival venue, www.birminghamjazzfestival.com or phone 0121 454 7020.
DRUMMIN’ MAN
By Garry Allcock’s All Stars Big Band with Very Special Guest Eric Delaney Sat 4th July, 8 pm at Birmingham Town Hall www.thsh.co.uk Box Office 0121-780 3333
 Oleg Kireyev in Birmingham
Russian tenor sax star Oleg will be in Birmingham during the Jazz Festival and will be playing at The Public, West Bromwich (July 5, 1pm), Ju Ju’s Restaurant, Brindley Place (July 7, 6.30pm) and K2 Restaurant, Moseley (July 8, 8.30pm), all with the Tim Amann Xtet.
On July 9, 9pm at Bearwood Corks he will be reunited with Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes. Other dates: July 10 Marlborough Jazz Festival with Ray Butcher Quintet, July 12 Scarlet Pimpernel, Harborne with Tim Amann, July 15 K2 Restaurant, Moseley.
Music in the Garden - Weekends June 20-July 19
High quality live entertainment hosted by John Dankworth and Alan Barnes, set in the delightful Old Rectory Gardens, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU. Phone 01908 280800, www.stables.org
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Jazz and Jive Music Evening - Sunday August 2, 6.30pm
Featuring music by the Jazz Ramblers and Bang On The Ear. For tickets phone 0121-454 1860, www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
 A Place in
the Sunlight
for Esther Miller
Jazz vocalist Esther Miller announces the release of her latest recording “A Place in the Sunlight” on July 10th.
The album is in collaboration with pianist/composer Steve Melling who has been working very closely with Esther over the past year and features Steve Waterman (trumpet), Steve Melling (piano), Zoltan Dekany (bass), John Perry (drums) and special guest Peter King (alto sax). Recorded in September last year, the material covered on this release is mostly original with a few modern standards.
For more information, please visit Esther’s website at www.esthermillersings.co.uk “You won’t find a jazz vocal standard on this album but a dozen less familiar, though endearing arrangements of songs that Esther delivers with consummate skill. Her intonation, diction, phrasing and time combine to make this, her third and very impressive album release.”
Brian Hennessy
Osbornes The Stationers Support Jazz
If you need photocopies, whether you are advertising your Band, Festival or Club, we can heartily recommend you to Osbornes Stationers. We at JazzWestMids use our local branch in Erdington regularly to photocopy our compliment slips, flyers etc, and we find the staff extremely helpful and courteous. Nothing is too much trouble for them!
Of course Osbornes are a lot more than just a photocopying service. They stock stationery in bright modern colours to appeal to all ages, account books, filing systems, envelopes, printer paper and cartridges, and arts and craft materials. What’s more, if you can’t find what you want they have access to 1000s more items with their next day catalogue ordering service.
Below is a list of branches, so we’re sure you will find one convenient for you. Take a look at their website, www.osbornestationers.co.uk
- BEARWOOD 589 Bearwood Road, B66 4BJ 0121-420 3856
- COTTERIDGE 1839 Pershore Road, B30 3DJ 0121-433 3779
- ERDINGTON 188 Sutton New Road, B23 6QU 0121-377 6029
- GREAT BARR 911 Walsall Road, B42 1TN 0121-358 0602
- HARBORNE 80 High Street, B17 9NJ 0121-428 3711
- KINGS HEATH 9 Institute Road, B14 7EG 0121-444 3583
- LEAMINGTON 9 Kenilworth Street, CV32 4QS 01926 430355
- SHELDON 2282 Coventry Road, B26 3JR 0121-742 6562
- SHIRLEY 224 Stratford Road, B90 3AG 0121-744 6545
- SOLIHULL 50 Station Road, B91 3RX 0121-711 3527
- WORCESTER 16 Mealcheapen Street, WR1 2DQ 01905 610547
Marlborough International Jazz Festival - July 10-12
Treat yourself to three days of lively jazz featuring artists from around the world.
Enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of this lovely market town which becomes a mini New Orleans. Box Office 01672 515095. For full programme visit
www.marlboroughjazz.co.uk
Stars In Her Eyes as Shaine Dorsey Wins Through To The Final of Thomas Cook X-Factor
Thomas Cook's very own X-Factor was a huge success when the company launched it's very own version of the popular competition to all staff based across the UK & Ireland. While the judges were not the likes of Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, everything else about the company's competition mirrored ITV's famous X-Factor and it was certainly successful in highlighting the wealth of talent that was hidden away during working hours.
Shaine Dorsey, who works for Thomas Cook as a Ticket Desk Consultant at Birmingham Airport, was one of the contestants in 2007 and we've been lucky enough to have a chat with her to find out more about her experience and how her passion for singing Jazz took her to the finals in Turkey. Shaine said: "I am normally a Jazz singer as this is my great passion and my hobby in my spare time. I would never have thought of entering this competition if it wasn't for my Duty Manager, who put me forward. Thank goodness he did!"
There was a real abundance of talent at the audition Shaine attended in November 2007 and it was set to be a tough competition. Shaine commented: "It was just like the real thing! We had to stand on the X cross and sing in front of 4 judges. I felt nervous! It was a great experience though."
Shaine chose to sing "From LA to New York" and "It Had To Be You" which were clearly a good choice as, after a nail-biting and stressful day, she was selected as one of the five outstanding finalists who flew off to Turkey. Shaine said: " We all got to know one another on the flight and when we arrived in Turkey we were whisked to our 5-star all-inclusive hotel. I felt like a superstar!"
The group worked harder than they ever had before until the show, stretching their talents to new limits. This included working out in the gym every morning, vocal training, dance rehearsals, learning the words for the songs the judges had chosen for them to sing. Shaine was given "From LA to New York" and "My Guy".
The group were not allowed to see the stage until the day of their performances. “Good job really as we were speechless when we saw it! When we performed it was like Stars in your Eyes, coming out of the fog that was blowing on the stage!”
Shaine concluded: "It was an incredible event and a wonderful experience, especially as we raised so much money for the charity Thomas Cook was supporting at the time, the children's charity The Variety Club. Maybe Thomas Cook can do a Strictly Come Jazz next, I'd be first in the queue to enter!"
Europe’s Biggest One-Day Sixties Music Festival
9th August 2009 - The Bowl, Burntwood, Nr Lichfield, WS7 3PH
Artists appearing include - these are the genuine artists, not tributes. GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS, THE SEARCHERS, THE MOVE, PJ PROBY, ALVIN STARDUST, THE NEW AMEN CORNER (above), CHIP HAWKES (The Tremeloes), MIKE D’ABO (Manfred Mann).
After the success of the 2008 show, the Sixties Summer Festival returns to the natural amphitheatre, The Bowl, at the side of the Chase. With a new line-up and some of last years favourites the day promises to be even better. Book early to avoid disappointment. Doors open 2pm, Concert 3pm–10pm.
Tickets: £28 in advance, £30 on the day, Weekend Ticket (incorporating the Proms) £40, VIP Tickets £80. To book phone 01543 412121 or www.theticketfactory.com
Whitley Bay International Jazz Festival - July 10-12
There may still be time to book yourself into Whitley Bay and we suggest you look at their website www.whitleybayjazzfest.org or phone 0191-643 7093 for this most international of festivals. Latest addition to the stunning line-up is Paul Asaro from the USA, recognized internationally as one of the leading exponents of the Stride piano style as well as ragtime and the classic jazz of Jelly Roll Morton..
Burntwood Proms In The Park
Saturday 8th August 7pm, Doors 6pm, The Bowl, Burntwood, Nr Lichfield, WS7 3PH
 The hugely popular Proms In The Park Concert returns to Burntwood Wakes on Saturday night 8th August with a great program of classical and popular British favourites. The concert is performed by the 50-piece City Concert Orchestra, conductor Adrian Jackson, and the Midland Symphony Choir with soloist Elizabeth MacDonald. The show is presented by two of The Midlands’ best loved comedians Don Maclean and Malcolm Stent. Nothing compares to the magic of this wonderful music performed outdoors.
Tickets: 01543 412121 or www.theticketfactory.com
STEVE KING @ BEARWOOD CORKS THURSDAY 2nd JULY
If you're in Brum a day early for the Jazz Festival and you're looking for something to get you in the mood, then come along to Bearwood Corks Club where you can take in the Steve King Big Band with their US vocalist, Lynn Dawes. Doors 8.30pm, Showtime 9 o’clock, Admission £6(£5 concession)
For an idea of how good they are you can play the videos below, but remember, they're even better live!
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