University of Birmingham Jazz & Blues Society

Once again there's lots happening in Birmingham over the next 7 days, so I hope some of you find this message useful. Particularly important and amazing is the JABSOC JAM a week today (Friday), the first jazz & blues society event of term - see below.

Many of the big gigs going in around town are promoted by Birmingham Jazz, and as a JaBSoc member you are entitled to their student membership (£20) which will get you into almost every gig for the rest of the year totally free. Mention JaBSoc at one of their gigs or drop me a line to get one, it's worth it!

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+ Friday 16th October (tonight), 5:30 - 7PM - Sara Littlefield at Symphony Hall Foyer. Part of Rush Hour Blues, a series of free gigs that run every Friday. Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/saralittlefields. If you're on twitter and going to the gig, give #RHBlues a mention (also worth knowing is that students get 30% off at the bar).

+ Saturday 17th October, 8PM - Tord Gustavsen Trio at the CBSO Centre. £12, or free with a Birmingham Jazz card. Internationally renowned Norwegian piano trio, http://www.myspace.com/tordgustavsentrio . £12 unless you have a Birmingham Jazz card!

+ Sunday 18th October, 7:45PM - Femi Temowo at The Hare & Hounds, King's Heath. Part of Soweto Kinch's Live Box night, Femi Temowo is Soweto's guitarist, and has played with George Benson, Cleveland Watkiss, Jason Rebello, and Amy Winehouse. Only £3 for students, and nice and close to Selly Oak! http://www.myspace.com/femitemowo

+ Monday 19th October, 8PM - Jazz at the White Swan, Grosvenor St. Cobweb collective night featuring a set by the house band followed by an open jam session, FREE!

+ Tuesday 20th October, 8PM - John Butcher, John Edwards, Mark Sanders, Gail Brand at 'Fizzle', The Lamp Tavern, B5 6AH. Double bill of free jazz bands - http://www.myspace.com/improvisationbirmingham

+ Wednesday 21st October, 9PM - Monday Sessions at The Yardbird. As Anyone who saw this band at the Guild in June will testify, home grown band Monday Sessions are one of the best funk bands in the country at the moment, and this is a great opportunity to see them. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158601777255

+ Thursday 22nd October, 9PM - Percy Pursglove / Jim Mullen at The Yardbird. Weekly contemporary jazz night run by the Cobweb Collective, FREE! http://www.cobwebcollective.com

+ Friday 23rd October, 5:30 - 7PM - Ross Stanley Organ Trio at Rush Hour Blues (Symphony Hall). Another FREE Friday afternoon gig.

+ Friday 23rd October, 8PM onwards - THE JABSOC JAM!!, Guild of Students, B15 2TU. The first Jazz & Bliues society night of the year, this is an opportunity to get up and play whatever you want with like-minded individuals. Expect a mix of jazz, funk, blues, soul and hip hop from some of the city's finest, so if you don't play anything come and listen. FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT.

+ Sunday 25th October, 8PM - Polar Bear at the Glee Club, Arcadian. Mega-famous British jazz group featuring a number of mega-famous British jazz people. http://www.myspace.com/sebastianrochford. £10 on the door, £9 online.