We are pleased to be supporting this Jazzlines gig. Birmingham Jazz has worked with Mike Gibbs many times over the years and this is a chance for Birmingham audiences to again enjoy the rich orchestral jazz arrangements of this master musician. A night not to miss!

Widely recognised as one of jazz’s leading composer/arrangers his pulsating compositions blend the colours of Africa, Charles Ives, Messiaen and rock into a unique jazz style. The 18-piece Big Band reads like a Who’s Who of UK jazz stars.

Mike Gibbs Conductor plus 18 piece Big Band: Ryan Quigley, Henry Lowther, Percy Pursglove, Nick Smart trumpets, Mark Bassey, Jeremy Price, Trevor Mires, Richard Henry trombones, Jason Yarde, John O'Gallagher, Julian Siegel, Alex Garnett saxophones, Jim Rattigan French horn & accordion, Mike Walker guitar, Michael Janisch bass, Hans Koller piano, Andrew Bain drums, Paul Clarvis percussion

Born in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabawe) Mike Gibbs has spent most of his career based in the USA & UK. A prolific composer and arranger he has worked with an astounding range of musicians including the likes of Pat Metheny, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Gary Burton, Whitney Houston and John Scofield and with some of the most important orchestras and big bands in the world.

Over the years, Gibbs has composed and arranged music for films, television, albums, ballet, jazz groups, symphony orchestras and is equally conversant in modern, traditional, jazz and classical styles. His recent projects include a composition for Bill Frisell and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (Bloods of Dust); a piece for London Brass (About Face); an album of European Folk Music (Europeana) for Joachim Kuhn with the Hannover Radio Symphony; music for Bill Forsyth’s film (Gregory’s Two Girls); and arranging and conducting a concert of Ellington music in Weimar with Gary Burton and NDR Big Band and Radio Symphony Orchestra.

See the THSH Jazzlines website

Gibbs music is full of intriguing inner detail that does not deflect from the ultimate destiny of his pieces

BBC Music Magazine

Here's a taste of Gibbs' music - with the NDR Big Band