24th Birmingham International Jazz Festival

A report on 2008’s event.

The 24th Birmingham International Jazz Festival in July presented 202 performances, with almost all of them free to the public and attracted over 115,000 people.

The Hotel Du Vin hosted a particularly hot session with Scots trumpet ace Bruce Adams recording a live CD with leading Spanish gypsy swing band Django’s Castle from Barcelona. Finally, things did get somewhat out of hand with Bruce doing the impossible with Pere Soto, Joan Marti and Josep Travers.

Youthful Blues sensation Oli Brown played a memorable set at new City Centre venue The Asylum.

Violin summit with two of the finest jazz fiddle players extant jousting in the posh Pavilions Shopping Centre. Holland’s Tim Kliphuis and Chicago’s Aaron Weinstein who enjoyed himself so much in Birmingham that he stayed on to the end of the festival jamming all over the place.

New York’s Carol Sudhalter made a welcome return visit winning a host of new fans with her consummate tenor saxophone and flute playing.

Germany’s Bourbon Street Stompers are Brum Jazz Festival faves performing the Classic Jazz repertoire with style, tremendous ability and unstoppable swing.

As well as playing several storming shows with Tipitina, Debbie Jones and Justin Randall also held a Gospel Choir Workshop at St. Martins in The Bullring.