Jazz At The Spotted Dog

It's that time kids!
It's already filling up so get down quick if you want a seat.
Also - bring cash! It's going to be rammed and the dog card machine is SLOW.
... See you all at 9!
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We challenge you to find a more outrageously killing group of musicians playing in a pub anywhere in the UK this fine December evening!

Christmas officially starts here!
Jonathan Silk leads an all-star cast of local heroes, visiting legends, and some very special guests...
Music from 9 but get down VERY EARLY if you want a seat!
... The team!!
Adam Jackson Olivia Murphy John Fleming Josh Arcoleo Alicia Gardener-Trejo
Tom Syson Mike Adlington Sean Gibbs Aaron Diaz
Tom Dunnett Mark Butler Yusuf Narcin Andy Johnson
Tom Ford Dave Ferris Andy Bunting Nick Jurd Tom Chapman
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Since Yorks stopped running their jazz nights a couple of years ago there has been a massive Percy and Bain shaped hole in the lives of Birmingham jazz fans. Luckily we here at the Spotted Dog are here to treat you to this exceptional line-up playing the best tunes the history of the music has to offer:
Percy Pursglove - Trumpet Andrew Bain - Drums John O'Gallagher - Saxophone... Rebecca Nash - Piano Mark Hodgson - Bass
As ever - music from 9, suggested minimum £5 donation for the musicians, cheap drinks at the bar, and a jam session after the gig with the wonderful Tommy Fuller. See you there!
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Tonight! A very exciting band featuring some of the most talked about young musicians around. 9 start, see you there!

A real treat lined up this week as welcome 3 of Birminghams finest plus the amazing Bruno Heinen:
Xhosa Cole- Tenor Bruno Heinen- Piano James Owston- Bass...
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Well excited about this - three absolute beasts making the journey down from Leeds tonight. Music starts at 9!

Tonight - one of the top piano players in the country in an all-star trio at the Dog. Not one to be missed!

Loads of great music in Birmingham this week - we're looking forward to having Sam Leak tomorrow, and this gig on Wednesday is also well worth checking out!
https://www.skiddle.com/…/Hare-And-H… /Snack-Family/13284263/

Tonight at the Dog it's our very own Chris Young! Get down!

Vitor Pereira - Guitar Chris Williams - Alto Sax Alam Nathoo - Tenor Sax Mick Coady - Bass Adam Teixeira - Drums
... Led by Portuguese guitarist Vitor Pereira this quintet has been mentioned as one of the best live contemporary jazz bands in London stunning audiences with their unique and energetic sound marked by interweaving saxophone lines overlaid with full and bold melodic statements. From the catchy head-banging guitar riffs to more quiet and mesmerising atmospheres they cover a full spectrum of textures unveiling a vast background of musical influences and leading the listener through a very diverse and ‘bumpy’ journey. With two studio albums and countless performances and radio plays around the UK and Europe they will be on the road to promote the release of their latest work “Somewhere in the middle”.
Vitor Pereira was born in Porto/Portugal where he studied mainly classical music and classical guitar. His interest in Jazz took him to participate in seminars and private lessons with the likes of Pat Metheny, Jonathan Kreisberg, Gilad Hekselman or Aaron Goldberg to name a few and ultimately led him to London in 2004 to study at Middlesex University. Living in London since then he is an active name in the UK and Europe playing with names such as James Allsopp, Asaf Sirkis, Josh Arcoleo, Binker Goldings, Marc Demuth, and more.
"intriguing and innovative" All About Jazz
“brims with vigour, imagination and staying power” London Jazz
“Highly impressive" The Jazz Mann
As always, the music starts at 9, the drinks are cheap, there's a jam session after the gig with Olivia Murphy and co - and this all happens for a suggested £5 donation in the jar at half time!
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Jiannis Pavlidis - Guitar Sam Quintana - Bass Steve Hanley - Drums
Jiannis was born in Sweden and lived in Stockholm from 1981-1990, where he studied with Alvaro Is Rojas (formerly with Josephine Baker, Grady Tate, Joe Farrell) and Ola Bengtson (head of Jazz Department, Stockholm Royal Academy).
... Through 1990-1994 attended he Berklee College of Music with a partial scholarship (Magna Cum Laude, Professional Performance Achievement Division Award) and studied guitar with Jon Damian (tutor for Bill Frisell, Wayne Krantz, Kurt Rosenwinkel), and attended classes under the direction of Rick Peckham, Hal Crook, Fred Lipsius (Blood Sweat and Tears) as well as having external private lessons with Jerry Bergonzi.
He started working professionally in 1983 and since then has performed across all genres (Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Greek folk music) in Sweden, USA, Serbia, Greece, Cyprus and England, with numerous appearances in live music venues, on Greek national TV and international festivals.
Since 2003 he holds a MMus (Masters in Music Performance) through Leeds University and is currently teaching as a principal lecturer on BA Jazz, BA Pop (principal studies, ensembles) at Leeds College of Music (2003-present).
He has frequently performed all over England and Greece for the last 10 years, participating in tours and recordings as a leader and with world renowned artists, such as David Liebman (2005, 2010), Adam Nussbaum (2007, 2010, 2011) and Greg Hutchinson (2015).
His latest projects are with George Kontrafouris & Adam Nussbaum released on FMR records and a duo recording with Matt Anderson on New Jazz Records.
As ever - music starts at 9, suggested minimum £5 donation in the jar at half time, cheap drinks at the bar and a jam session until the early hours hosted by Olivia Murphy!
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More Spotted dog madness this week as we welcome co-host Chris Young back with a brand new project.
Presenting 2 sets of new originals Chris is joined by the heavy weight rhythm section of
Elliot Sansom - Piano... Ben Murihead - Bass Jim Bashford - Drums
As always cheap beer and a jam hosted by David Ferris. Suggested £5 donation the jar.
See you there!
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Sam Leak - Piano Simon Read - Bass Jon Scott - Drums
Sam Leak is a London-based Jazz pianist described by JazzFM’s Helen Mayhew as ‘One of the brightest stars in the Jazz piano galaxy, a heavenly improviser, and a brilliant prospect for the future.’ His album “Aquarium” was one of MOJO Magazine’s ‘Top Ten International Releases of the Year.’
... The Sam Leak Trio perform contemporary jazz with a gospel-tinged, and folk-inspired, freedom and abandon. Conjuring up the joy and emotion typified by Paul Bley and Keith Jarrett’s 1960s trios, the ensemble maintains a sense of the tradition whilst performing music that is very much rooted in the present. Featuring Simon Read on double bass, and Will Glaser on drums, the band perform a mixture of Leak’s compositions and some lesser played compositions from their favourite musicians. Tonight the trio will be playing music from Leak’s new album “Adrift,” recorded for Jellymould Jazz in duet with Dan Tepfer, described by Marcus O’Dair as ‘astonishing.’ Described as “compelling” and “reaching far beyond the jazz loop” (John Fordham), ‘Adrift’ is a unique composition for two pianos that explores the range of colours and possibilities offered by the unconventional lineup. Sometimes densely complex, at others eerily sparse; the writing is engaging and melodic, conjuring up images of a snow-brushed New York in winter. The composition was originally written for 2014’s Steinway festival, held at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club. The success of this performance led the pianists to record the album at the Yamaha Piano Rooms in Midtown New York in January 2016.
As ever - music starts at 9, suggested minimum donation of £5 in the jar at the interval to support the musicians, cheap drinks at the bar, and a jam session after the gig with David Ferris and co!
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You might remember seeing Tom last year at the Dog with Mark Trounson's band - he's an unbelievably wonderful saxophonist and the winner of the Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize. We are very excited to have him tonight as part of his debut album launch tour. Get down early if you want a seat!

A member of Ronnie Scott's band for 14 years and a continuing formidable force on the UK jazz scene, trumpeter Dick Pearce’s lyrical approach has influenced a generation of British trumpeters. He has a sophisticated command of harmonic improvising, although, as with his self-confessed (and disparate) trumpet heroes - Chet Baker, Art Farmer and Don Cherry - his playing comes across as anything but contrived.
Arnie Somogyi is one of the UK's most in-demand bass players and has ...played on over 50 albums, including five as a leader. He has recorded and performed with many of the world’s leading jazz musicians including Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Henderson and Steve Grossman, as well as international stars Tom Jones, Charlie Watts and Amy Winehouse. His music has featured on radio, television and in films. He has been nominated for both BBC Radio 3 and Parliamentary Jazz Awards and works frequently at Ronnie Scott’s as a sideman and with his own bands. He teaches jazz as a Visiting Lecturer at Birmingham Conservatoire and The Royal Academy of Music.
They will be joined by two local heroes for what promises to be an absolute corker!
Dick Pearce - Trumpet Arnie Somoygi - Bass David Ferris - Piano Nathan Jones - Drums
As ever, music from 9, suggested minimum donation of £5 in the jar at the interval, cheap drinks available at the bar and a jam session after the gig hosted by David Ferris!
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This is gonna be a transatlantic joy.. Jam session provided by commander in chief Lt.Ferris. Cheap glorious beer, 9pm start, see you there!

Tom is the winner of the 2017 Kenny Wheeler Prize in association with Edition Records and the Royal Academy of music. This has meant over the past year he has worked hard writing, rehearsing, gigging and recording his debut album "Bloomer" which is now available from Edition Records.
Tom's writing for this band has been described by Evan Parker as "wonderfully intricate and demanding and yet is exuberantly listenable". Downbeat also wrote "Excellent compositions". Tom draws o...n compositional influences such as Mark Lockheart, John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, Troyka and Iain Ballamy to create a set of music unlike anything on the London Scene today.
"A strikingly large new British jazz talent arrives with saxophonist Tom Barford’. WRITTEN IN MUSIC
"There's ample evidence here that the saxophonist-composer is already living up to his billing, with a deep engagement with both mainstream and contemporary jazz sources and a dexterity beyond his years."- Jazzwise ​ “Bloomer is possessed with an overarching and consistent vibrancy which is clearly indicative of even greater things to come from this talented musician.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (UK)
​“...this is an album that excites and intrigues, and leaves the listener looking forward to hearing what’s to follow from this effervescent, gifted new talent.” UK VIBE (UK)
Tom Barford - Tenor/Soprano Saxophone Billy Marrows - Guitar Rupert Cox - Keyboard Flo Moore - Bass Dave Storey - Drums
As ever - music from 9, cheap drinks at the bar, jam session after the gig with this month's host David Ferris, and all for a suggested donation of £5 in the interval!
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Triumphant return of a local hero!
Alex Woods formed this ensemble 5 years ago during his time spent spent living in New York. Over the stretch of three years, Alex composed a lot of original music for the band, influenced heavily by his experiences within the cIty and some of the fascinating characters he was fortunate enough to meet. His quartet performed regularly at established New York jazz venues such as Cornelia St Cafe and Bonafide Jazz Club and record their debut alb...um, entitled ‘Highline’
Since leaving America, Alex has performed music off this album to audiences throughout Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. ‘Highline’ has been signed to Stoney Lane Records and to mark its release, the original New York Quartet will embark on a tour supported by the Arts Council England. Having grown up close to Birmingham, their is a lot of personal excitement surrounding this opportunity for Alex to share his music and energetic band at the Spotted Dog.
Alex Woods - Alto Saxophone Billy Test - Piano Percy Pursglove - Bass Andreas Svensden - Drums
As ever - music from 9, cheap drinks at the bar, a jam session after the gig hosted by David Ferris, and all for a suggested £5 in the jar at half time!
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What a great place to listen to live classical music performed by truely talented people.

What a great place to listen to live classical music performed by truely talented people.