Thursday 29th September

Harmonic launch party – The Yardbird

Husk

If this is anything like last year’s launch party or our programme launch last month this will be a very special night at The Yardbird. So far we have confirmed Sam Wooster’s Husk. Sam will be putting together a special performance for the festival with his heavy metal-inspired band Husk. Husk are an awesome band. You can check them out at our programme launch party here.

Friday 30th September

Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen makes a long awaited return to Birmingham, and for the first time with Birmingham-based duo Dreams of Tall Buildings. Although they have made an album together, the trio have never performed together live. The music is hauntingly beautiful, and the blend between Arve’s rich trumpet sound and the soundscapes created by DOTB is breathtaking. DOTB site-specific approach to making music led them to perform at the closing of MAC before its refurbishment where their music was made up of recordings taken around the building.

http://www.arvehenriksen.no/
http://www.dreamsoftallbuildings.com/

We have also teamed up with Birmingham City University to deliver the second instalment of their Jazz And The Media conference. Following on from the very successful inaugural concert in 2010, this years focus will be on jazz musicians use of online media as well as on jazz collectives.

As a part of the day we will be presenting three sest from three different UK based collectives. Representing Cobweb Collective from Birmingham will be Lluis Mather’s band Noose. Lluis’s thoughtful and intelligent tenor sax playing is reflected in his composition through this fascinating quartet of sax, vocals, piano and drums. From London’s Loop Collective we have Splice. Splice recently performed for the first time at the Loop festival which was broadcast on Jazz On 3. The band explores electro-acoustic improvisation and features Robin Fincker on sax, Alex Bonney on trumpet, Pierre-Alexandre Tremblay on bass and Dave Smith on drums. Finally from Manchester’s Efpi Collective we have The 265 Quartet. Efpi are really making a name for themselves, especially with the Beats & Pieces Big Band. This quartet is somewhat gentler but nevertheless intriguing.

Saturday 1st October

The third day of Hamonic will be the longest of the festival running from around midday until 11pm. We’ll be making full use of the MAC’s fantastic spaces by using as much of it as possible. In the main theatre we are very pleased to present Food. Iain Ballamy and Thomas Stronen will be joined by some very special guest musicians from Birmingham and further afield. This concert is a jointly presented by Birmingham Jazz. Festvial Director Percy Pursglove will be giving his new project Enchanted Heart with guest Hans Koller a debut airing at the festival. Percy’s ability as a trumpet player is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Here he will be flexing his compositional muscles with collaborator and friend, Hans Koller.

http://www.ballamy.com/

Mike Hurley will be curating a day of free music in the Hexagon Theatre with a food theme. Tasting Notes will feature some of Mike’s regular guests and collaborators from the Fizzle free improv nights as well as some very special guests.

Harmonic will also be presenting some music in the Foyer of the MAC throughout the day. Bands from Cobweb Collective will be providing free entertainment throughout the day with Greyish Quartet, Jonathan Silk Quartet and new band Elda all confirmed so far.

Directions in Music will be a marathon performance from pianist/composer Steve Tromans stretching across the course of the entire day, Steve’s focus will be on performing the uncapturable by performing for at least 11 hours solidly. This will be a truly one-off event.

Sunday 2nd October

MAC, Cannon Hill Park

We’ll have some exciting activity on Sunday afternoon at the MAC on the final day of Harmonic 2011. We’re still finalising the plans for this day, but don’t worry, Harmonic’s creativity, music and atmosphere will all be present!

Dave Holland also treated us to a brief solo set and the end of the gig which was a real treat. We’re adding snapshots of our days to the Media page via our Flickr account.

For a very in-depth look at Dave’s visit to the Conservatoire (including mid-gig video footage from the musicians!) head over to http://hollandforaweek.com. Soweto Kinch trio and Lluis Mather quartet at The Yardbird tomorrow; can’t wait!

All you have to do is answer this simple question:

Which bass legend, who played on Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew album, is making a special appearance presenting student bands at Harmonic on Wednesday 10th March?

Add your name, email and answers below. Closing date for entries is 8pm on Tuesday 9th March when we’ll select the winner at random from all the correct entries. We’ll contact the lucky winner with details after then. Good luck!

The competition is now closed. The lucky winner was Pete Rosser.

6pm – 6.30pm
7.30pm – 8.00pm
9pm – 9.30pm

As well as a fee, we can offer you a free pass each for the Saturday gigs of Paul Dunmall Trio, Sara Colman, Chris Mapp’s Gambol and Moon Unit which can’t be bad! If you play in a duo already, or have someone you can make sweet music with drop us a line. We’re open to any combination of instruments, the only stipulation is that you have to ply your trade in the West Midlands. Remember this is a jazz festival. Take a look at our programme and see if your music will suit our line-up before you enter.

Drop us an email at: chris@harmonicfestival.co.uk with your names, instruments you play, where you live, and if possible a link to your website or Myspace.

Rules
- Closing date for entries: 24th February at 8pm
- We will look at all the entries, but we will only get in contact with those who are successful
- You need to provide your own instruments/backline. We’ll provide a small P.A.

Soweto will be making his first ever appearance at Cobweb Collective’s weekly residency at The Yardbird Jazz Club on Thursday 11th March. Well known throughout the city and indeed the country for pioneering jazz and hip-hop, Soweto never fails to impress and astound audiences and musicians alike. Known equally for his fluid alto playing and his sharp freestyle, this is a great opportunity to check him out at a great venue free of charge.

Also appearing at The Yardbird will be Lluis Mather with his award-winning quartet. Lluis is fast becoming one of the most in demand sax players on the Birmingham scene. His fantastic quartet were the deserved recipients of the Dave Holland Ensemble Prize this year, so it seems only fitting that they appear on the same bill.

Details of the gig can be found here

Don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter for all the latest news on Harmonic. Please add your details to the Mailing list on the book tickets page to be kept informed about where and when you can get tickets. We’ll be on Facebook soon too, so there’s no excuse not to get in touch with us!

Harmonic

Harmonic

We’ll be adding updates regularly so check back soon. See you in March!

Harmonic

www.benmarkland.co.uk

Line-up: tbc

www.aarondiaz.co.uk

Check out a recording of this gig on our Media page

Line-up:
Aaron Diaz – trumpets
Nick Rundle – Tenor 
Colin Mils – Bari/Sop 
Andy Bunting – Keys
Rob Anstey – Bass/Trombone
Tom Durham – Guitar
Jim Bashford – Drums