Jazz calendar gets off to a flying start

Jan 11 2008

BIRMINGHAM Jazz opens its 2008 programme with three events featuring local, national and international bands and performers.

On Tuesday, January 15, the Pete Harris Quartet play a free show at the Jam House in St Paul's Square.

The Quartet features Pete on guitars, Markus Byrne on keyboards, Ben Markland on bass and Neil Bullock on drums.

Pete is much in demand by touring rock bands but is at heart a jazz player, combining a bluesy feeling with amazing technical facility in his playing.

Ben and Neil have a great understanding as a rhythm team, mainly because they work together in a number of bands, notably Chris Bowden's Trio and the Fat Chops Big Band.

The John Taylor Trio, with special guest Julian Arguelles, play the CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham, on Saturday January 19, part of a national tour to mark John's 65th birthday.

The trio features Palle Danielsson on bass and Martin France on drums, plus special guest saxophonist Julian Arguelles. They will be playing a new work, Requiem for a

Dreamer, commissioned by Birmingham Jazz, Turner Sims Concert Hall, The University of York and the Airshaft Trust.

The third Birmingham Jazz event is the Phil Robson Quartet featuring Dave Liebman on saxophones on Saturday January 26 at the CBSO Centre.

Dave Liebman is one of the great American saxophonists; he played with Miles Davis in the 1970s and continues to tour and record.

On this tour he will be working with a group put together by UK guitarist Phil Robson which includes Aidan O'Donnell on bass and Jeff Williams on drums.