HOLIDAY IN BIRMINGHAM HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLIE HOLIDAY IN BIRMINGHAM LADY DAY AT 100 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLIE LADY DAY AT 100 The world-wide appeal of BILLIE HOLIDAY, in what would have been her 100th birthday year, FROM MADELEINE PEYROUX is shown in a remarkable tribute to the singer at the 31st Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival involving performers from France, Lithuania, Italy and the Czech Republic as well as the UK. The acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist from Athens, Georgia reflects on the influence of Billie Holiday. Stompers from France, Pepper Sarah Lenka Holiday in Birmingham should and the Jellies from Italy, one of be the highlight of Birmingham the sensations of last year’s Jazz and Blues Festival (July 3- festival, and the always-popular 12), but there is much more to Czech reedman Jerry Senfluk. enjoy. As usual the number of high-quality free concerts is The intention is to make the remarkable and some of the whole weekend a tribute to the venues surprising. A random singer who many regard as the sample of artists appearing in greatest in jazz history - and the addition to those involved in performances by a host of Holiday in Birmingham present-day jazzers are only a emphasises the variety of the part of it. Question and answer festival experience: Art sessions, discussions and Themen, the strolling interviews, plus tributes to the musicians from Switzerland musicians in her great 1930s Saxitude, Stockholm Stompers, bands, will be added in time - and Bruce Adams, Becky Brine, already lined up are two film Remi Harris, Alan Barnes, Hot showings: The Long Night of Lady Sarah Lenka is highly regarded as owes a great deal to chance, but Jazz Alliance, King Pleasure and Day, a programme of short films, one of the top singers on the also shows the impact that Billie’s the Biscuit Boys and the and the Diana Ross film, Lady Paris scene, constantly busy in music can have. Originally she Rumblestrutters, plus many Sings the Blues, at the Mockingbird the capital as well as opening on was into folk, pop and trip hop, more. big tours for the likes of Taj but then in London she met an Theatre on July 11.And, of course, the UK’s most successful Mahal. In 2007 she won the American double-bassist: Tel.: 0121 454 7020 SACEM Award - a sort of French Billie Holiday musical www.bigbearmusic.com Grammy - in the New Voice ‘He asked me to come and play programme, also Lady Sings the Blues, will be there, getting the category and her very Gallic some jazz songs with him, but I Holiday...Val Wiseman came as Holiday weekend off to a flying approach is to sing of ‘extreme didn’t know any! So I looked at close as possible without losing start at the Library Studio aspects of love seasoned with a my room-mate’s jazz CDs and her own identity.’ sense of humour, but also found one of an unknown singer, Theatre in Birmingham’s mystery and sweetness.’ but I loved the song Don’t Explain. acclaimed new Library. Originally So July 10-12 in Birmingham Photo by Rocky Schenck When I sang it, the bassist told staged in Birmingham over a should be a weekend with many But Sarah’s material is not typical me I had a similarity to Billie quarter of a century ago, the top singers and performers I don’t think any sound can stop and more Billie. Ten volumes on Strange Fruit at every show. She from which, at times, I was afraid French chansons. Many of her Holiday, but I had never heard of show still showcases the talents paying tribute to the great Lady you in your tracks like the sound Columbia Records with the small was a force! It unleashed a racist I might never return. There is a songs come from the repertoire her and didn’t dare to say so. So, of Val Wiseman, Digby Day – but let’s leave the last of Billie Holiday. It’s instant group sessions that would define campaign against her that would kind of despair that teens know of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. when I came home, I discovered Fairweather, Roy Williams and word to Sarah Lenka: This is why she was so delighted more of her music. At first I Len Skeat, now joined by Julian immersion, no distractions. When an era’s sound and material. From eventually take her life. well, and though I was singing her she did it to me, I was a teenage the late thirties to early forties to join the Birmingham festival’s didn’t like it, but, as I sang more, I Marc Stringle, Brian Dee and Eric ‘I am very excited to come and songs, I faced my own fears and runaway aspiring to be a singer, she recorded every song under As I grew into singing, I wanted Holiday in Birmingham weekend just felt close to all those songs, Ford. Setting off on the show’s be part of it, very honoured, tragedies. My inner demons and or just to be somebody. I was the sun with the masters of to dig deeper into Billie. I (July 10-12). Though she studied all this truth she can sing, all 2015 tour, Lady Sings the Blues impressed to sing with great their voices overtook hers, and at struck with her simplicity, her understatement at her side: Teddy explored her later arrangements in London and lived there for five those feelings that can only be seems to be as fresh as ever, English musicians! I can’t wait to eighteen I had to stop, to step power of suggestion, and a sense Wilson, Lester Young, Freddie with Decca and Verve, and her years, her only gig in this country expressed through music! For me judging from Lance Liddle’s share Billie’s music! She is the back and deal with depression. that we weren’t so different, she Green, Jo Jones. Each song has an final masterpiece, Lady in Satin. I so far came as backing singer in a Billie can sing silence and that is comments on Bebop Spoken Here one who allowed me to start my But, as a dark and scary path and I. Vulnerable and tough, alternate life below the surface, had to watch out. With her, you folk band in those student days. what made me feel so close to in a review of the tour's opening career, so I just hope I will be becomes the path to triumph, I blissful and forlorn, naive and sometimes its best life, in her could be swept away on a wild Accompanied by top British her music – to sing with only date in Durham: ‘Whilst few, if able to honour her and the came through and I was given the bitter. I dug in deep. reading. In 1939 she stood still, ride through the whole of musicians on her UK festival what you have in you, those any, have equalled the poignancy festival!’ chance to sing again. debut, she will sing a Billie things that make you who you and emotional content of Billie Wherever I looked, I found more bold, and strong, and performed comedy and tragedy. It was a ride Holiday programme under the are!’ Pepper & The Jellies Photo by Unbeknownst to me at first, my title A Flag for Lady Day on the Marina Chavez career would be an hommage to Friday at the Barber Institute of Holiday in Birmingham will take on Billie Holiday. By career I mean Fine Arts and the Penta Hotel. many different aspects.Several of identity, sisterhood, tenacity and And so on for further the artists appearing at the strength. In her company I’d festival will include spots of 20 or performances over the weekend. found self-worth, kindness and 30 minutes within their sets love. This is not a wild ride from Sarah’s involvement with jazz and commemorating the work of which one wants to return. No! with Billie Holiday in particular Billie Holiday. Those who have It urges us onward! Pioneer, poet, already been signed up (and martyr, woman: Happy Birthday WINNERS: DIGBY more will follow) include FAIRWEATHER COMPETITION Lithuanian swing band the Billie! In our ears you are still JAZZ RAG 135 Schwings, featuring award- singing. In our hearts, you live MRS. HAZEL P. TAMKIN of winning singer Laura Budreckyte, forever. Newton Abbot, Devon, and PETER Photo by MORTON of Oadby, Leicester. festival favourites Les Zauto Photo by Merlin Daleman Rocky Schenck MADELEINE PEYROUX 8 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 9.