NEWS: A Great Day in Birmingham (11 Feb 2019)

Tony Kofi, as captured by Brian Homer Photo: © Brian Homer

Remember the classic photograph, A Great Day in Harlem? Birmingham photographer and jazz enthusiast Brian Homer is hoping to emulate it in his city on 11 February. Peter Bacon reports:

It’s a chance to celebrate the vibrant jazz scene in England’s Second City; it’s also a chance to create a memorable photograph. A Great Day in Birmingham takes its cue from Art Kane’s iconic 1958 photograph taken in front of a Brownstone building in Harlem and featuring 57 musicians, most of them still great names in jazz’s history. There’s even a book dedicated to that picture (Art Kane: Harlem 1958 by Jonathan Kane, reviewed here).

Photographer Brian Homer will be co-ordinating the event and triggering the shutter (though he’d love other photographers to be involved too), and is calling on  those active on the Birmingham jazz scene to gather in Victoria Square, Birmingham, at 10am on Monday 11 February 2019.

Selfie shot Photo: © Brian Homer

Brian, who is also instrumental in producing the bi-monthly Jazz in Birmingham what’s on guide, told me: “I’ve known about Art Kane’s iconic picture of 57 great jazz musicians taken in 1958 for many years and I’d thought of doing it in Birmingham before but I’ve now got to know the scene better and now seemed a great time to do it.

“The jazz scene in and around Birmingham is now very strong with a wide range of musicians, promoters, clubs and venues as well as one of the top jazz courses at the Conservatoire. And Soweto Kinch being prominent on radio and TV as well as playing, and Xhosa Cole winning BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 just made it the right time.”

LINK: Jazz in Birmingham’s A Great Day in Birmingham page with full information

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