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Jazz at Cherry Reds, 88-92 John Bright Street, Birmingham (2026)

20/04/2026

This week at Cherry Red's! In a slight change to our regular programming, we have a jam night on this week, hosted by the boy-wonder Josh Bailey and his trio! Featuring Casper Hamilton on bass, and Rufus Reader on drums.

Josh is a pianist/drummer who is a rising star on the Birmingham jazz scene. At 18 he has supported for Benny Benack III, and is in 1st year at the Birmingham Conservatoire's jazz course, where he has played with Chris Potter, and is taught by Mike Williams and John Turville. His influences on piano include Pablo Held, Mulgrew Miller and Herbie Hancock, as well as being heavily influenced by Marcus Gilmore and Kweku Sumbry with his drumming.

Casper Hamilton is a bassist/pianist from Norwich, currently in 2nd year at Birmingham Conservatoire, and another rising star in the Brum scene. His musical influences range from Walter Smith III, Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock (to name a few) as well as teachers such as Percy Pursglove, Arnie Somogyi and Daniel Casimir. He is very active with fusion band Ranger, as well as within the local jazz scene.

Rufus Reader is a drummer/composer from the Isle of Wight, also currently studying at Birmingham Conservatoire, under primary tutelage from Jonathan Silk. He has performed/collaborated with Tom Ford, Dave Sear and Jon Thorne, and is an active member in the Brum jazz scene. His debut EP 'Stepping Out' is recently released, featuring original compositions for quintet.

10/04/2026

We’re back with a bang next Wednesday at Cherry Red’s - Hyper Lokal! Four of Birmingham’s most legendary musicians come together - Percy Pursglove, Dave Sear, Nick Jurd and Jonathan Silk! 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

Hyper Lokal: 100% jazz. 0% mileage.
Hyper Lokal is Birmingham’s most stubbornly rooted jazz quartet. They don’t tour, don’t travel, and don’t play anywhere outside the city. Not for money, not for exposure ... not even for Montreux. If it’s not Birmingham, it’s not happening.

No flights. No vans. No exceptions - They travel to gigs via horseback, pigback, or even on occasion - bicycleback, depending on the weather, terrain, and mood of the livestock. Why? Because they care deeply about what carbon they’re treading into the Earth’s carpet. Their only emissions are through their horns.

They’ve played under the arches of Spaghetti Junction, on the roof of the Rotunda, and are still, one day, hoping for a slot in Symphony Hall foyer.

Featuring Percy Pursglove (trumpet), Dave Sear (trombone), Nick Jurd (bass), and Jonathan Silk (drums) - four of the UK jazz scene’s finest, united by two things: a love of rhythmic music, and a deep commitment to sustainability.

Jazz that stays.
Music that moves.
Hyper Lokal.

.nick

17/03/2026

Next up at Cherry Red’s - the legendary Giulia Marro! A rising star clarinetist and vocalist of the UK jazz scene, she brings a quartet of London’s most exciting young musicians - Nick Manz on
piano, Ben Love on double bass
and Sacha Harlan on drums. Not one to miss! 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

Clarinet player and vocalist Giulia
Marro released her debut album
A Portrait of Giulia in March 2025,
marking her arrival as a distinctive
new voice on the jazz scene.

Rooted in tradition yet unmistakably personal, the album showcases Giulia’s deep connection to the jazz
tradition alongside her flair for storytelling, melody and expressive improvisation.

As a composer, she is inspired by Carla Bley, Jimmy Giuﬀre and Duke Ellington. As she weaves together influences from jazz, folk and blues, creating music that feels both familiar and strikingly individual.

Praised for the clarity of her musical vision, Giulia has been recognised for her ability
to balance creativity with craft. As the North London Jazz Collective notes:
“Giulia’s composing and playing combines creativity and craft in an immensely
memorable fashion and truly marks her out as a Voice with a capital ‘V’…”

As an accomplished bandleader, Giulia has led ensembles across the UK, performing
to sold out audiences well-known jazz venues and festivals across the UK, captivating
audiences with her warm, melody-centred clarinet sound. Her performances arecharacterised by a strong sense of narrative and an evident love for the tradition of
small-group jazz.

05/03/2026

Coming up next Wednesday at Cherry Red’s - bassist and bandleader Oli Fitzgerald! Oli brings music from his new album release ‘What Might Have Been’. Fresh new music from one of the rising stars of the UK scene. 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

With their debut album “What Might Have Been” released in January 2026, the Oli FitzGerald Trio are a dynamic and innovative jazz ensemble known for their captivating performances and fresh interpretations of both classic and contemporary jazz. Led by bassist, Oli FitzGerald, the trio also features the incredible pianist Chris Outhwaite and the outstanding drummer Ethan Sweeting who are two of the most in demand young musicians today.

The tunes from the new album “What Might Have Been” were influenced by the music of legendary bassist Charlie Haden with some additional influences from Carla Bley and Kit Downes. It mixes contrapuntal music with rhythmic grooves and textures that creates a different soundworld for the listener to be in. After having an appreciation for the classic piano trio’s through history, this music is truly about melody and the beauty this music can bring out.
 The chemistry in the band has developed over years of playing together where spontaneous exchanges and dialogues open up the music whether that is conscious or subconscious.
 Whenever this band plays, it is all about making great music with depth, control and energy that is executed with elegance. Be sure to check them out or their new album which is available on Bandcamp (Oli FitzGerald) and physical CD!

18/02/2026

A very special one next Wednesday at Cherry Red’s - all the way from New York the incredible Gideon Tazelaar! Gideon will be joined by two heavyweights of the UK scene, Arnie Somogyi and Sebastiaan De Krom. Expect a night of serious swing! 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

Gideon is Guardian critic John Fordham’s choice in this month’s Jazzwise feature, ‘The Shape of Jazz To Come’:

“Netherlands newcomer Gideon Tazelaar, a student of the great George Coleman, might be labelled a young mainstreamer for his deep absorption in tenor-sax evolution from Ben Webster to Coltrane and beyond, but he patiently reinvents all of it.”

If you haven’t heard him yet, you won’t be disappointed.

07/02/2026

Up next on Wednesday at Cherry Red’s - the fantastic Nye Banfield! Nye is bringing an incredible band with Robbie Moore, Ewan Moore and Nick Jurd. Bound to be a great night of music - we can’t wait! 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

Hailing from rural Leicestershire with Welsh roots, Nye Banfield is a distinctly creative saxophonist and composer. His music has a raw and earthy organic quality, painting visceral scenes inspired by his life experiences. Having spent nearly 10 years cutting his teeth in South East London, Nye is now based in Birmingham where he is forming the next chapter of his career.

A graduate of Trinity Laban, Nye follows in the footsteps of a stream of young giants- Nubya Garcia, Laura Jurd and members of Ezra Collective, to name a few. Influences of Nye’s include jazz icons Wayne Shorter, Ambrose Akinmusire and mentor Mark Lockheart, as well as the pastoral works of Ralph Vaughan Williams and song writing of Damon Albarn.

.nick
saxophone

25/01/2026

Less than a week to go until we welcome the incredible Sylvie Noble to Cherry Red’s! Sylvie will be sharing some of her favourite songs, joined to by two of London’s finest young musicians, Joseph Leighton and Ben Boardman. This one will be a real treat! 🍒

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

“Sylvie is on her own path, with lots of imagination and beautiful sound” - Norma Winstone

Based in London, vocalist and composer Sylvie Noble pulls from eclectic influences across the musical spectrum, combining jazz and folk to create an entirely unique sound. Her debut album ‘New Eve’, a voice and bass duo collaboration with 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician winner Ursula Harrison, is due for release in spring 2026. A finalist of the 2025 Tina May Young Jazz Musician competition, she combines fluent and experimental improvisation with evocative and soulful melodies, pushing the boundaries of genre. She has worked alongside an array of brilliant musicians, such as Ant Law and Tom Ollendorff, and with influences such as Betty Carter, Joni Mitchell and Carla Bley, her sound is steeped in sensitive honesty and captivating storytelling.

14/01/2026

🍒 TONIGHT! 🍒

We are super excited to have John Turville hosting a session tonight at Cherry Red’s! John will kick things off with a trio set, before opening up the jam. Come hang out, listen to the music, and maybe play yourself! The perfect way to start off the new year of music 🔥

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

John Turville has developed a reputation as ‘one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation’ (Ian Mann). After studies at Caius College, Cambridge (where he was a choral scholar) and the Guildhall, he quickly established himself as a performer and composer on the European scene. John has recorded three albums as a leader which have won multiple awards including MOJO’s #3 Jazz Album of the Year, and ‘Best Album’ in the Parliamentary Awards 2011, the 2009 PRS Promoter’s Choice Award. John was also awarded the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize in the inaugural 2010 London Jazz Awards. More recently, John completed a 20-date Arts Council Tour with his quintet around the UK in 2019, touring his album ‘Head First’. This was the only jazz event featured in The Guardian’s weekly guide, and received four-star reviews in The Guardian, Jazzwise, BBC Music Magazine and regular radio play on Radio 3 and Jazz FM.

birminghamjazz

12/01/2026

🍒It’s a new year, and a new season of great music at Cherry Red’s!! 🍒

We’ve lined up performances from some of the most exciting musicians on the UK jazz scene, and we can’t wait to hear what they bring to our incredible space!

A big thank you to everyone who has supported the night so far! We’re looking forward to seeing you soon for more amazing music, starting with…

14th January - Jam session hosted by John Turville 🎹🎉
Start off the new year right with a classic jazz jam session, hosted by the legendary John Turville! John will play a short set, and then the session will open - free entry for anyone who plays!

28th January - Sylvie Noble 🎤🌟
A rising star of the London jazz scene, vocalist and composer Sylvie Noble pulls from eclectic influences across the musical spectrum, combining jazz and folk to create an entirely unique sound.

Feb 11th - Nye Banfield 🎷🔥
Hailing from rural Leicestershire with Welsh roots, Nye Banfield is a profoundly creative saxophonist and composer. Now a local of Birmingham, Nye paints visceral scenes from his life and the people around him through his music.

🎫 Tickets are available NOW through the link in our bio - we hope you’ll join us for all of these wonderful artists, and for a hang and a play at the jam this WEDNESDAY!!

See you soon :) 🍒

———————-

29/11/2025

🍒 NEXT WEDNESDAY AT CHERRY’S 🍒

Next week we will be hosting London heavyweight tenor saxophonist, Fraser Smith, with his incredible quartet of Rob Barron (piano), Simon Read (bass) and Steve Brown (drums). Joining us hot off the heels of his latest album release, ‘Lifeline’, this will not be a gig to miss! Prepare yourself for an evening of the finest swing available in the UK, tickets available at the link in our bio! 🔥🌟🍒

⏰ DOORS - 7:30PM ⏰
⏰ MUSIC - 8:00PM ⏰

Fraser Smith has spent the last decade and a half establishing himself on the London jazz scene. With a focus on swing and the straight ahead, he channels the sound and language of the big Tenor men. Fraser picked up the sax at age 15, and at around the same discovered a Charlie Parker CD in the Woolworths discount bin. Three years later Fraser was accepted onto the jazz course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he later graduated with first class honours. After that he moved to the capital to complete his Masters Degree at the prestigious Trinity College of Music, London.

Homing in on swing and bebop, Fraser then continued to learn the craft the old way. Through thousands of hours on and off stage he listened and emulated to inform his own sound. The result is a style that has been described as rich and firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. Contrary to many of his contemporaries he takes prominent influence from the likes of Mobley, Dexter, Illinois Jacquet and unsung hero of the Tenor, Wardell Gray.

16/11/2025

🍒 NEXT WEDNESDAY 🍒

We are super excited to welcome Honey Boulton back to Cherry’s after a sold-out gig earlier this year, bringing with him an all-star London lineup featuring Sam Davies (piano), Asaph Tal (bass) and Will Cleasby (drums). It’s going to be 🔥… we can’t wait!

⏰DOORS - 7:30PM⏰
⏰MUSIC - 8:00PM⏰

Honey Boulton is a jazz guitarist, banjo player and composer residing in London. Through exploration of different musical styles and traditions during senior high school (2012), he discovered his passion for jazz music and has since dedicated his time and energy to pursing a musical career. In 2019 Honey moved to London, UK and began performing around London. He ended up finding a second home at Kansas Smittys, a jazz club dedicated to the music of past and present, where he spent many nights either performing, listening or managing the bar. This lifestyle of total immersion in the culture pushed Honey to further limits in his performance style and inspired a large body of work compositionally.

Through his compositions, Honey aims to capture the fire and spirit of the great African American art form, and apply it to the context of living and performing in New Zealand, while paying due respect to the tradition. His influences are made up of a long list of composers/artists, including Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Toshiko Akiyoshi etc. In 2019 he recorded and released his debut album ‘Portrait’, in an organ trio format, and in 2020 released ‘Les Charmants’, another collection of original music inspired by the group The Poll Winners.

Tickets are available RIGHT NOW via Skiddle at the link in our bio, or alternatively on the door - do book early to avoid disappointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Jazz at Cherry Reds

20/04/2026

10/04/2026

17/03/2026

05/03/2026

18/02/2026

07/02/2026

25/01/2026

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29/11/2025

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