Sid Peacock and Surge Orchestra – Surge In Spring, mac, Birmingham, 8 April Photo credit: Marcin Sz

Our resident in the English Midlands, Editor-at-Large Peter Bacon, makes his pick of the April gigs worth travelling for.

Tuesday 4 April

Tom Dunnett Sextet
Jazz @ The Spotted Dog, Digbeth, Birmingham, 9pm, £5 or more donation.
Trombonist Tom Dunnett gets big-band punch from his Sextet. They should do well amid the lively hubbub of this Birmingham jazz hotspot. More here.

Friday 7 April

Pilgrimage
In association with Jazzlines at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham, 8.30pm, £10-5.
The bi-monthly knees-up hosted by Young Pilgrims, this time featuring soul-jazz Trope who have their second EP just out. More here.

Lewandowski/Noble/Clarvis – Waller
Presented by Derby Jazz at The Cube, Derby, 8pm, £10.
The trio of bassist Mark, pianist Liam and drummer Paul play the music of Fats. Are their feets too big? There’s one way to find out… More here.

Zoe & Idris Rahman
Presented by Leicester Jazz at Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester, 8pm, £12.
Music from the pianist’s recent solo piano album Dreamland, with her brother as special guest on clarinet and saxophone. More here.

Saturday 8 April

Surge In Spring
mac, Birmingham, 1pm till late, day ticket £25-20.
Surge Orchestra leader/composer Sid Peacock curates the first Grow Your Own festival with music ranging from gospel and folk to free improv and Indo-Jazz. More here.

Tom Hill’s 70s Jazzfunk Machine
Presented by Shrewsbury Jazz at The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £14
The characterful bassist and his band get deeply into the groove with guitarist Lee Jones along as a special guest. More here.

Wednesday 12 April

Simon Spillett Quartet
Presented by Stratford Jazz at Stratford Artshouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, 8pm, £12.
The tenor dynamo carries the Tubby Hayes standard aloft with a youthful, largely Midland-based band. More here.

Tuesday 18 April

Brice/Dunmall + Schlegel/Ulrich/Pursglove
Fizzle at The Lamp Tavern, 7.30pm, £7.
The home of free improv in the city offers a double bill every fortnight – this one, with saxophonist Paul Dunmall and trumpeter/bassist Percy Pursglove should be one of their best. More here.

Wednesday 19 April

Olly Chalk Trio
Jazz @ the George IV, Lichfield, 8pm, £5.
Recent 1st Class Birmingham Conservatoire graduate, pianist and composer leads a strong trio in the welcoming intimacy of a pub back room. More here.

Friday 28 April

Hans Koller Quartet
Presented by Birmingham Jazz at The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, 7.45pm, £12.50.
The pianist and Birmingham Conservatoire tutor leads an all-star band which includes New York alto player John O’Gallagher. More here.

LINK: Jazz In Birmingham