 STEVE KING BIG BAND
 ANNUAL XMAS CONCERT
The Steve King Big Band will be performing their annual Christmas Concert at Halesowen Members Club on Sunday 18th December at 12.30 pm.
Always a popular event, the band will be playing a selection of everyones favourite Christmas tunes in their own big band style. American songstress Lynn Dawes will be singing some great Christmas songs with the band to get everyone in the mood for the festive season. £6 on the door.
TIPITINA
Tipitina Local dates include:
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Sharman’s Cross in Solihull B91 1HT December 16th
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Malmaison Hotel 1 Wharfsdale St. The Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RD December 31st
ANDY GAYLE – THE
HEALING PROCESS
Andy Gayle’s latest album “The Healing Process” is a musical representation of a very personal journey, which is admirably and succinctly set out in the very eloquent liner notes.
Musically, the album consists of twelve numbers, eight of which are original. They cover a very wide range of moods and emotions, from the extrovert “Soho Road” to the beautifully poignant “The City Hums Your Name”. Andy plays tenor or soprano sax on all bar one of them. His soprano playing makes an occasional nod in the direction of Kenny G, and is fluent, powerful but sensitive throughout. His tenor sax playing is exceptional, in that he is always capable of maintaining a big sound, even in the fastest passages: not always the easiest thing to do. His talents as an arranger are also to the fore, and are displayed in a wide variety of sonic textures.
It is a tribute to Andy’s abilities that so many of Birmingham’s finest musicians agreed to take part in this project. All are outstanding, but special mention must go to John McKinley on guitars, and Pete Hammond on drums, who underpin the whole thing. The vocals of Michelle Brogan are also very special: more should be heard of her.
In short, this is an album which should be taken up by a major jazz label.
ANDY PEATE
Buy CD from www.andygaylejazz.co.uk or
Hello everyone!
Welcome to the December / January issue of Jazzwestmids...
 Tamworth’s Mainstream & Modern Club hosted by Ken Mosson celebrates 20 years at Bolehall Manor on January 9th with the Mark Goodchild Sextet. The club actually opened its doors 5 years earlier in 1987 at The Good Companions (later re-named The Old Liberal House) with a short period at The Jolly Sailor before settling into its current Amington Road location. Ken’s club is a very friendly one with it's loyal following and gifted performers including the Monday, 12th December line-up featuring The Tom Hill Quartet, Tom on bass, Paul Sawtell vibes, Al Gurr keyboards and Nick Millwardon drums. Well done, Ken, on 20 years of Jazz At The Manor and a certain 80th birthday this past summer!
The Southside Big Band have a special concert on Wednesday, 14th December when vocalist Jeff Hooper makes a welcome return to The Stadium Club in Wheelers Lane, Kings Heath B13 0ST. A great night at a great venue!
Hey, there’s a New Jazz Club at HARRISON’S SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB, WHARWELL LANE, GREAT WYRLEY WS6 6EU WALSALL , WEST MIDLANDS“ Barbara And All That Jazz” are opening on Thursday 1st Dec. Let’s wish the new club the very best ! Phone : 01922 412138 Fax : 01944 768443
Sutton Coldfield Trad Jazz Club is on the move to The Walmley Social Club, 4 Fox Hollies Road, Walmley B76 2RJ. The first gig will be on Wednesday, 21st December 2011 which will also be Christmas Party night. The Walmley Club is an excellent venue with a large car park. Nos.71 and 914 buses run from the town centre and stop within a few yards of the club.
Leam Jazz, Dec 14th, continues a series of special guests with, Andrea Vicarim, Professor of Jazz Piano and senior lecturer at Trinity College of Music, London, one of Europe’s leading conservatoires. Andrea Vicari is also the musical director of a show about Chet Baker: “Chet Baker Speedball” which ran during the London jazz festival. Andrea is heavily committed to Jazz Education, currently working with Yamaha Jazz Experience and is Musical Director of the Dordogne Jazz Summer School. “One of the most brilliant young jazz musicians in the UK - an outstanding pianist and superbly fertile composer” ( Penguin Rough Guide to Jazz )
Well, Jazzers, have yourselves a very Merry Christmas and a very musical New Year!
Stella
The 46th Annual Oxfam Stomp - all proceeds to Oxfam
Friday 6th January, 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm
At The New Billesley, Brook Lane, Kings Heath, Birmingham B13 0AB
Featuring:
Chris Pearce's Frenchmen Street Jazz Band
Spats Langham & Friends
George Huxley's Jazzmen & Caz Shennington
Brian Mellor's Jazz Ramblers
£10 on the door or £8.50 in advance from Pat McMeekan on 0121 444 3525
Archie Cotterell
All of us at JazzWestMids were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of pianist Archie Cotterell. A full obituary will appear in our next issue.
The funeral has been arranged for Wednesday 21st December at 2pm, at Bushbury Crematorium, Wolverhampton. Following the funeral, there will be a reception at the Masonic Lodge, Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton.
 Roger Hill passed away peacefully on Tuesday 8th November
Roger was a central figure on the Birmingham music scene from the mid 60’s. It began with his brother Bob with Bobby & The Dominators, soon to be followed by The Plazents, Brumbeats, Uglys, The Exception and later Fairport Convention. From the mid 70’s there followed a successful involvement with Chris Barber’s Jazz Band with whom he travelled far and wide. (Chris once quoted ‘If you want to know anything about guitars-don’t ask me-ask Roger Hill’) -praise indeed!
Roger’s musical career spanned over 50 years from The Plaza in Old Hill to New Orleans (which he disliked-’It’s on a bog’ he said often!) Encouraging him to speak about his experiences was fascinating, impressive, and humorous and his philosophy in more recent times was ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ and most all of his gigs kicked off or ended with it. Despite suffering a debilitating condition, Raynauds Phenomenon, likened to frostbite and affecting his finger tips, Roger would be seen putting on special plasters overcoming the discomfort, to enable him to play his beloved guitar.
Sadly, no more to be heard around our city, the sweet strains of ‘Nuages’ the haunting ‘Evening’ or the mighty ‘Hey Joe’, to name but a few of the awe inspiring tunes, the versions of which Roger had made so much ‘his own’-but certainly, the friends and devotees that loved him, will keep his music in their hearts forever.
Rest in Peace Roger - Musician Extraordinaire - Gentleman - Eccentric and a friend to many
Nanette
Latest Gig News:
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TREVOR BURTON BAND at BROWN LION
On Sunday January 15 Trevor and the Band will be playing at the Brown Lion Pub, 18 Hall St. Hockley, B18, Corner of Warstone Lane and Caroline St, from 5.30-8pm - Free admission, hot and cold food available until 4pm. A warm welcome and great music from Trevor at the Brown Lion! Good parking too! For info call Linda on 0121 241 6751
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REUBEN JAMES AT BEARWOOD CORKS THURSDAY 16th JANUARY
Pianist Reuben James (photo rt with John Patrick) started as a young prodigy performing with The Notebenders and quickly moved up to the Birmingham Jazz Ensemble. He has since gone on to tour with trumpeter Abram Wilson. He now brings his own trio to the club where he played some of his very first gigs. A great young pianist with a rapidly growing reputation - Admission £4 (£3 concs) - Music starts at 9pm
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RAY BUTCHER IS BACK! Having left the Midlands to run the new Blue Train Jazz Club in London Ray will be returning to play a one off gig at the Leam Jazz Club on Wednesday January 18th.
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ANDY GAYLE JOINS HENRY NEWMAN
BAND AT CORKS
Andy Gayle will be joining Henry Newman and his band at Bearwood Corks this Thursday 9th January. Andy is among the very best saxophone players in the region and recently wowed a full house at Bearwood Corks with Definition Of Magic.
Originally self-taught he went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music under the likes of Courtney Pine and Jean Toussaint before playing lead tenor in Tomorroww's Warriors. He has recently recorded a stunning professionally produced CD album called "The Healing Process" which I'm sure will be available on the night.
The rest of the band will include some of Henry's regulars including former Black Voices vocalist Janice Williamson who I'm never shy to remind people I have on a beautiful vinyl LP. All in all it looks like Henry has put together an excellent line up for this gig.
The following week at Corks it's pianist Reuben James (16th January) who started as a young prodigy performing with The Notebenders and quickly moved up to the Birmingham Jazz Ensemble. He has since gone on to tour with trumpeter Abram Wilson. He now brings his own trio to the club where he played some of his very first gigs.
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STRATFORD JAZZ UPDATE FROM MAGAZINE: Sun 18 Dec - Bebee Quintet. "Christmas Special" - Percy Pursglove (t) replaces: Bryan Corbett
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RAY BUTCHER IS BACK! Having left the Midlands to run the new Blue Train Jazz Club in London Ray will be returning to play a one off gig at the Leam Jazz Club on Wednesday January 18th.
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MEANWHILE DECEMBER KICKS OFF WITH SOME GREAT GIGS INCLUDING Fret & Fiddle at Bearwood Corks on Thursday 1st, Steve Ajao’s Club Bebop at the Prince Of Wales B’ham on Saturday 3rd and Barbara & All That Jazz at Jazzamataz Coventry on Sunday 4th -
All in DECEMBER?JANUARY LISTINGS
CORRECTION FROM MAGAZINE:
The dates listed in the above advertisement are listed as being at their sister hotel in Stratford in the October edition of the magazine. Please note that the above advert is correct and that the dates are at the Brasserie in Leamington Spa.
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