In the last few years Breakin’ Convention has been increasing their commitment to the development of hip hop theatre as a genre and in particular the support of UK-based companies. Through their education and professional development strands they aim to offer a range of opportunities and platforms as well as connecting companies with Arts Council England, other funding bodies and arts organisations.

One of our courses is Open Art Surgery, a unique intensive masterminded by Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director and hip hop theatre pioneer, Jonzi D for professional hip hop artists to engage and understand hip hop theatre better. Open to dancers, DJs, beatboxers, emcees, musicians and graffiti artists, participants receive training, mentorship and studio space to experiment and create new works in progress.  This culminates in the Open Art Surgery performance at the end of the week where the results are shared to a live audience who are then invited to critique, question and feedback to the artists.

Birmingham Hippodrome continues their dedication to supporting hip hop by partnering Breakin’ Convention to deliver Birmingham’s first ever Open Art Surgery in July. Jonzi will be joined by co-mentor Soweto Kinch and will feature local artists including Mad Flow, Marso Riviere, NeneTaps (MDK), Marius and Andrei (MDK), DJ Psykhomantus, RTKAL and Sticky Toffee.

The live event will be hosted by Jonzi D alongside Birmingham’s award winning jazz musician Soweto Kinch as they introduce the fresh new work developed during the week. Expect to see the very best in breaking, popping, locking, rapping and turntablism chewed up and given a theatrical overhaul.  Birmingham Hippodrome and Breakin’ Convention’s commitment to offering high quality theatre at an affordable price is evident in the £5 ticket price.

The Open Art Surgery performance takes place on Saturday 20 July 2013, 7.45pm at Patrick Centre, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5, 4TB. 

Tickets are available from the Hippodrome’s website.

Forgive me for not regurgetating this copy from Breakin Convention. 

On 20 November, The Hare & Hounds and Birmingham Jazz will be welcoming the Grammy nominated Christen Scott Quintet to Birmingham.

Considered somewhat jazz pedigree, as the nephew of saxophonist Donald Harrison, Scott has become one of the great innovators of his generation as part of an achingly cool new wave of contemporary jazz artists. He arrives at the Hare & Hounds in support of his new album ‘Yesterday You Said Tomorrow’.

Tickets are £13 (£10) and are available online via theticketsellers, by calling 0844 870 0000 or in person at Polar Bear Records, Kings Heath.

]]> http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/2010/09/30/bbc-radio-3-pick-up-on-some-of-birminghams-jazz/ Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:57:38 +0000 http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/?p=7298 [Read more...]]]> A bit more news in the follow-up of Artsfest, this time on the musical front. Over the weekend BBC Radio 3 recorded two homegrown jazz performances for the Jazz Line Up programme, which was broadcast last weekend, on Sunday 26 September.

Recorded at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham bands led by Ben Markland and Percy Pursglove played at the special edition of Rush Hour Blues. The show is currently still available to listen to on BBC iPlayer.

Take a look at this post on the Birmingham Jazz blog to read a bit more about it.

On 2 October Flat Earth Society will be hosting their silent film project, complete with a fifteen piece jazz ensemble. Led by clarinetist/ tenor sax player Peter Vermeersch, the band will be playing their own soundtrack to Ernst Lubitsch’s ‘ The Oyster Princess’ (1919), telling the story of the Oyster king of America, Mr Quaker, and his desire to marry his daughter Ossi off to a Prince.

To get a flavor of the project, take a look at this video;

The evening will take place at mac, starting at 8pm. Tickets are £7/ £5 for members and concessions, and can be bought online or by calling the box office on 0121 4463232

Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research are hosting ‘Jazz and the Media‘, in partnership with Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham Jazz on 15 October. The event welcomes three internationally recognised speakers who will be presenting seminars throughout the day.

Mike Connolly is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 10 years experience in factual and arts television production.

William Ellis is at the vanguard of music photographers and is widely recognised as having created an important document of the contemporary jazz scene in Africa, Europe and The Americas.

Alyn Shipton is an award-winning author and broadcaster, who is jazz critic for The Times in London, and a presenter/producer of jazz programmes for BBC Radio.

To read more about these guys and their extensive careers working around jazz and the media, visit the event page.

Tickets can be ordered online at jazzandthemedia.eventbrite.com.

In May, there’s a mini concert for 3-5 year olds and families called Notelets – Shake, Rattle & Roll, Gwilym Simcock Quartet courtesy of Birmingham Jazz, the CBSO cellos, and more. While June serves up the Neil Cowley Trio, Most Simply… Mid Summer, the annual CBSO Young Voices Rock and Pop concert, and El Ultimo Tango. In July, the SHOUT Gospel choir will be performing as part of Birmingham Jazz Festival.

There are also a selection of free events for young people, including Music Maze and Zigzag ensemble.

All in all, there should be something to tickle your fancy or give a go this summer.