Digbeth Jazz

06/02/2025

DIGBETH JAZZ Q1 2025 // S5
TREESSPEAK
11 FEB // 19:30
THE NIGHT OWL

TreesSpeak, is a project fronted by Saxophonist and Composer Dan Lockheart. The idea for “TreesSpeak” is to personify our own connection with nature and explore the ways in which it supports and inspires us in our everyday lives through means of music, improvisation, and words.

Sonically inspired by jazz contemporarires such as Andrew Renfroe, Brian Blade and Myron Walden. As part of the Midlands Jazz Mentorship program Dan worked closely with Saxophonist/Composer Alex Hitchcock to produce a suite of music: Roots To Leaves. Each movement detailing the different ways we can be inspired by nature. The band will be playing music from this suite as well as other compositions new and old. Expect strong narrative and soaring melodies and laced together with driving grooves.

This latest line up features:

Dan Lockheart - Saxophones, Compositions, Spoken Word

Dave Bustos - Saxophone

Vato Klemera - Keyboard, Electronics

Josh Vadiveloo - Bass

Jim Bashford - Drums

30/01/2025

DIGBETH JAZZ Q1 2025 // S4

TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2025
THE NIGHT OWL

Oscar Wilde once said; ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness’. Jazz musicians have always known this and have always done their best to stand on the shoulders of giants. While these three musicians are in no way mediocre they will happily afford every flattery to the great Thelonious Monk.

Here are three friends getting together to pay homage to one of the greatest Jazz composers of the 20th century, Thelonious Monk.

With a wealth of experience and artistry at their finger tips Dave O’Higgins, Luke Fowler and Billy Pod have set out to pay their respects to the works of Thelonious Monk and to use his compositions to express themselves and display their veracious talents.

Monkin’ Around are releasing their new album on October 4th by Ubuntu music, followed by an album launch date at the Pizza Express, Dean Street on the 16th of October.

16/01/2025

DIGBETH JAZZ Q1 2025 S2
FERG’S IMAGINARY BIG BAND
21 JAN 7:30PM
THE NIGHT OWL

*“Riotous Leeds Ensemble…expansive, high-energy sets that are never the same twice.” – Kevin Le Gendre, BBC Radio 3*

*“Fantastic musicianship and soloing meet theatrical drama and punk attitude” – Ally J Steel, Jazz Revelations*

Recipients of the 2023 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award , Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band make a rare appearance outside the north and this is their first appearance in Birmingham. Known for their raucous live shows and bombastic arrangements, don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles live! Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band’s 2025 tour celebrates the release of their 2nd album ‘Live At Lancaster Jazz Festival’. Released on Trash City Records on the 13th December 2024, a limited 12” LP which will be on sale before and after the show.

The band is an organic and fluid ensemble of young jazz musicians drawn from across the Leeds jazz scene. The band’s origins were as an informal five piece Sun Ra tribute project but quickly grew into a dynamic 25+ strong musical force with a reputation for energetic live performances and experimental arrangements. To pin the music down to one influence would be a task; a part of the sound owes itself to the works of Duke Ellington, Sun Ra Arkestra, and the Mingus Big Band, but the DIY Punk aesthetic and ethos of the band, along with a love of film composers such as Ennio Morricone is integral to the band sound also. Whilst it is not at all uncommon for mosh pits to break out during the bands noisy numbers, Fergus and the band also have a sensitive sound, with beautifully written ballad arrangements appearing regularly. Live composition is a big part of each performance and recording, with various hand signals and movements occurring at any moment that the band recognise and respond to. Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band offer an unmatched chance to watch a large group of the best musicians Leeds has to offer, performing original improvised music.

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

05/12/2024

DIGBETH JAZZ XMAS BIG BAND 2024
10.12.2024 | 7:30PM | THE NIGHT OWL

It’s the most YADIG time of the year! Come celebrate the festive season with us here at Digbeth Jazz featuring our STACKED Digbeth Jazz Big Band! This gig is our FESTIVE FUNDRAISER - with your support we can continue to grow and put on another year of world class music! Featuring all your favourite Xmas Bangers and a whole bunch of new arrangements. Mirth & Merriment guaranteed! YADIG!

29/11/2024

DIGBETH JAZZ SESSION FIFTEEN
PETE HORSFALL SEVEN
03/12/2024 | 7:30PM | THE NIGHT OWL

Acclaimed trumpet player and vocalist Pete Horsfall presents a new intergenerational 7-piece ensemble playing Chicago-style jazz. The traditional front line of trumpet/trombone/clarinet are joined by a swinging four piece rhythm section.

“Ravishing” - The Guardian
“Truly a unique new voice” - Jazz FM
“Bittersweet and beautiful vocals” - BBC Radio 3

- Trumpet
- Clarinet
s - Trombone
- Piano
- Guitar
- Bass
- Drums

21/11/2024

DIGBETH JAZZ SESSION FOURTEEN

LUKAS DERUNGS QUINTET

26.11.2024 - 7:30PM - THE NIGHT OWL

Lukas DeRungs is an award winning pianist-composer hailing from Mannheim, Germany, whose inspiration ranges from contemporary jazz to renaissance choral music. His debut album“KOSMOS Suite“ was nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2023 and described by legendary vocalist Norma Winstone as ‘music full of imagination, both tender and explosive’. Recorded in January 2024 after an intensive period of touring and composing, his upcoming second album ‘WAKE’ sees him return to a quintet setting alongside four of his favourite improvising musicians: Immy Churchill, Karim Saber, Jonas Esser and Jan Dittmann.

Since their first gigs in 2022 the band has developed a deep listening relationship and sense of groove, enabling them to collectively shape the bandleader’s compositions, which range from evocative songs to rhythmically intricate interlocking structures.

“precise interplay“ - Lena Hausheer, Zuger Zeitung
“virtuosity and elegiac depth of focus“Judith Engel, Uckermarkkurier
“extraordinary sound world“ Beat Bl**er, Aargauer Zeitung

Immy Churchill (London) – Voice
Karim Saber (London) – Guitar
Jan Dittmann (Mannheim) – Double Bass
Jonas Esser (Mannheim/New York) – Drums
Lukas DeRungs (Mannheim) – Piano

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.

07/11/2024

SESSION TWELVE:
David Ferris Septet - “Sketches” Album Launch
12.11.2024
7:30PM

Led by pianist and composer David Ferris, this group features some of the best musicians both from London and the Midlands. For this performance they will be playing music from their forthcoming Stoney Lane Records album “Sketches”, which features guest appearances by the master New York guitarist Peter Bernstein.

This band was originally formed in October 2016 and the music draws from both the rich sound of large fully-orchestrated groups, and smaller more improvised settings. Their debut album, Alphabets, was released in 2018, and was followed with a highly successful 10-date UK tour (supported by Arts Council England.) The band were joined for both by Estonian singer Maria Väli (of the multi-award winning Estonian Voices) and the music received critical acclaim across the UK jazz press.

“One to watch.” - Helen Mayhew, Jazz FM
“A buoyant affair, teeming with fluctuating moods, lush harmonic episodes and zesty solos.” - Adrian Pallant
“A young musician of great promise.” - Ian Mann, thejazzmann.com
“I was really impressed by the fluency and imagination of Dave Ferris’ playing.” - Tony Dudley-Evans, Cheltenham Jazz Festival

David Ferris - Piano
Hugh Pascall - Trumpet
Richard Foote - Trombone
Tom Smith - Alto Saxophone
George Crowley - Tenor Saxophone
Nick Jurd - Bass
Euan Palmer - Drums

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”