This is Birmingham Jazz Celebrating its 50th Birthday.

Our aim has always been to create a visible jazz culture that thrives for another 50 years. In Partnership with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) to build a single archive of our history using many sources of material. The archives will be on display during September & October in our regular venue 1000 Trades & the RBC, with an extensive live programme at both venues, including a commission for the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. Drawing on musicians who first played in one of the 5 decades, new musicians, a photographic & written narrative publication alongside the archive display. Commission by a graphic artist to create images of the most popular jazz musicians over the years, chosen by our audiences, will form other publications.  BJ history has strong Black musicians’ development in the last 50 years will be also celebrated.

 Over these 50 years, Birmingham Jazz has sustained a continuous programme of jazz across the city, bringing together international & national artists while creating opportunities for local musicians & students to write, perform & develop their work live. This project is a chance to thank & celebrate the artists who have shaped those 50 memorable years, while helping to build a sustainable organisation for the next 50. By involving school pupils & students, student bands, we will also inspire & strengthen the next generation of jazz talent and audiences. 

The huge 50-year programme we have successfully managed & funded weekly events with little public funding support. Highlights have been: the creation of UK premiers of work by musicians visiting & touring; new commissions for work; music student opportunities to play live, Mentoring Emerging Talent, not available to them elsewhere, including school gigs through the Music Service, new bands formed with BJ support, worked across the genres mixed with other art forms & opened new venues that extends the reach into new audiences in the city & beyond. This project is different from anything we have done before, by presenting the full range of jazz experiences to stimulate future audiences.