Digbeth Jazz

10/01/2025

10/01/2025

JAKUB KLIMIUK QUINTET
14 JAN 2025
7:30PM
THE NIGHT OWL

Jakub Klimiuk – Guitar
Simeon May – Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Cody Moss – Piano
Kinzan – Double Bass
Adam Merrell – Drums

Jakub Klimiuk Quintet is a London-based ensemble that fuses influences from the Scandinavian improvised scene and contemporary New York jazz, creating a sound full of exciting tension. The resultant repertoire is a combination of scripted forms and improvised sections, constantly entwining melodic compositions and experimental sonic escapades.

The band’s recent album ”(un)balanced”, featuring one of the UK’s modern jazz pioneers, the saxophonist Mark Lockheart, tells the story of seeking balance in today’s reality, manoeuvring through the overwhelming deluge of information and striving to discover inspiration in everyday routine.

The quintet has performed at major UK jazz venues, including Vortex Jazz Club, PizzaExpress Live, 606 Club, receiving favourable reviews from European press outlets such as UK Jazz News and Jazz Forum.

“*Jakub’s original compositions, his own playing and that of this fabulous band were also appropriately full of optimism and the promise of good days to come. Nights like this reassure us that the future of jazz is in safe hands.*” **– UK Jazz News**

“*This is an impressive debut*“ - **Jazz Views**

09/01/2025

DIGBETH JAZZ LINEUP Q1 2025

14 JAN
21 JAN
28 JAN LOOPHOLE
04 FEB MONKIN AROUND FEAT.
11 FEB TREESPEAK
18 FEB ANOTHER ISLAND
25 FEB BYRO
04 MAR
11 MAR DI-CYSGODION
18 MAR .mcconkey
25 MAR A PORTRAIT OF GIULIA ALBUM LAUNCH

07/01/2025

DIGBETH JAZZ BEGINS ON 14TH JAN 2025
LINE UP TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

15/11/2024

SESSION 13
CATRIONA BOURNE QUARTET
19.11.2024 . 7:30PM . THE NIGHT OWL .

Catriona Bourne is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who has performed at venues and events including London Jazz Festival, Wilderness Festival, Sinfonia Smith Square, Kings Place and Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. She has experimented with flute and live electronics, recently performing a solo set of her own arrangements and improvisations in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall.  Although she studied classical harp throughout school, Catriona is most excited by the opportunities to improvise and compose for the harp. She has always had an interest in folk, and combines this with her love of jazz through her original compositions.
In 2024 she released her debut album, Triquetra, in her quartet featuring Francis Tulip, Joe Bainbridge and James Owston, and commenced an 8-date album release tour supported by the UK Harp Association. The album is an impulsive dive into experimental jazz-infused folk that draws off Catriona’s Scottish heritage, exploring nostalgia for a lost past.
Catriona has worked as a session musician with a number of artists including world-jazz singer Lea Mondo and singer-songwriter Grace Angelica, performing at venues including Ninety One Living Room and Crazy Coqs. Having honed her academic knowledge of music through study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and developed her improvisation skills in postgraduate study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and with Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Strings programme, she is currently based in London.

31/10/2024

DIGBETH JAZZ SESSION ELEVEN

JAMES BORLAND QUARTET
05/11/2024
7:30PM
THE NIGHT OWL

One of the most in-demand young musicians of the vibrant Birmingham Jazz Scene, James Borland’s distinctive, warm tone and characterful improvising speak both to his love of the jazz tradition, but also the forward-thinking melodicism of contemporary NY figureheads such as Ambrose Akinmusire and Immanuel Wilkins. His quartet brings together an impressive young rhythm section who share his love of free-flowing, exciting jazz music, featuring sought-after bass and drum team Ben Love and Kai Chareunsy, and BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Nick Manz on piano. The Quartet play James’ original music, alongside carefully selected favourites from Jazz pioneers.

24/10/2024

MARK LOCKETT QUARTET
29/10/2024
7:30PM
THE NIGHT OWL
lockett.music
Roger Manins



New Zealand drummer Mark Lockett is set to release his seventh album in Europe in 2024. Recorded in New York, ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ features top Jazz musicians, Matt Penman, David Binney and Duane Eubanks. The album includes nine original compositions which feature the musicians’ masterful improvisations in a cutting-edge setting.
“I still feel a connection with the New York scene. There’s a great energy that comes with just being there which I hope reflects in the music”
Mark had recently been checking out a lot of contemporary jazz and observed how many composers write music in odd time signatures. “For me it makes the music sound fresh and interesting. Also playing in a chordless setting means the music can go in any direction at any moment which can be engaging for the audience and very stimulating for the musicians”

20/10/2024

JACK BANJO’S SNACKWALL
TUESDAY 22ND OCTOBER
7:30PM
THE NIGHT OWL

spearheaded by jack banjo courtney (cassie kinoshi’s seed., olivia dean, opus kink), snackwall peddle their unique brand of avant rock-jazz, echoing jazz rock, scandi-jazz, traditional musics and art-rock whilst continuing the powerful energies and grooves that have driven the UK jazz scene in recent years. with eclectic inspiration from the likes of electric miles, cuong vu and the bad plus; these four musicians, now well and truly established on the scene, perform a dizzying array of interaction and interplay as they weave in and out of rockier and modal soundworlds. expect diverse vibes, from fierce blowing to big grooves to ethereal soundscapes.spearheaded by jack banjo courtney (cassie kinoshi’s seed., olivia dean, opus kink), snackwall peddle their unique brand of avant rock-jazz, echoing jazz rock, scandi-jazz, traditional musics and art-rock whilst continuing the powerful energies and grooves that have driven the UK jazz scene in recent years. with eclectic inspiration from the likes of electric miles, cuong vu and the bad plus; these four musicians, now well and truly established on the scene, perform a dizzying array of interaction and interplay as they weave in and out of rockier and modal soundworlds. expect diverse vibes, from fierce blowing to big grooves to ethereal soundscapes.

11/10/2024

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR CHRISTMAS BIG BAND? Link in bio!

We need ARRANGERS, VOCALISTS, RHYTHM SECTION, and HORN PLAYERS.

08/10/2024

DIGBETH JAZZ AUTUMN 2024 LISTINGS

New listings just dropped ! Look out for this flyer on a pub table near you.

8/10 -
15/10 -
22/10 - .wall
29/10 - .lockett.music
05/11 -
12/11 -
19/11 -
26/11 -
03/12 -
10/12 - DIGBETH JAZZ XMAS BIG BAND