About this Event
KB Jazz Festival 26 - Saturday 16 May 2026
The Programme
Super Swinging Saturday
Morning Session
0930 Doors open.
1000 Guitar Workshop - ‘Understand & learn the Blues’, led by Luca Gianassi.
1045 Interval & Refreshments.
1200 Main Hall closes.
1215 Refreshments for Guitar Workshop attendees - Green Room.
Afternoon Session
1300 Doors open.
1300 Refreshments by the Scouts.
1400 Session 1 - The Luca Gianassi Trio.
1440 Main Hall closes.
1515 Session 2 - The Ben Carter Quartet.
1700 Main Hall closes.
Evening Session
1730 The Wayside Serenaders - Set 1 - Outdoors.
1840 The Wayside Serenaders - Set 2 - Outdoors.
1930 Session 3 - The Ben Shankland Quartet, with guest vocalist, Sophie Gilbert.
2200 Doors Close.
(Note: Session tickets for the three indicated Sessions will be available later).
Jazz Festival 2026 - The Bands
Luca Gianassi Trio
Born and raised in Italy, Luca is a Birmingham-based guitarist, composer, and educator.
Moving to London, the jazz scene helped him to develop a fusion voice on the instrument, which has become part of his unique approach to the guitar.
He has extensive live-performance experience, including international festivals and venues in this country, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and has performed at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Symphony Hall in Birmingham, and the Lava Jazz Festival in Portugal.
He remains very active in Birmingham as an educator and academic mentor.
He led a Masterclass in Jazz at the 2025 Zhejiang Band Competition in China, where he was also one of the four official judges, joining band mates from RBC to provide demonstration performances.
For Fest26, having led the Guitar Workshop during in the morning, Luca will be joined by Thomas Marsh, (Bass), and Reece Downton, (Drums), to launch the afternoon sessions.
The Ben Carter Quartet
Ben Carter is a saxophonist, composer, musician and graduate from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Originally from Southampton, Ben Carter studied for four years at RBC and graduated in 2023, before releasing his debut album ‘Pulsar’ in 2024.
Inspired by the sound of classic saxophonists like Paul Desmond, Art Pepper and Charlie Parker, Carter aims to bring this sound to a more modern environment, incorporated into free-flowing, complex compositions inspired by musicians like Chris Potter, Kenny Garrett and Bob Reynolds.
As well as playing music with his own band, he also plays in Impossible Conversations, a Birmingham-based band that recently toured the country playing music from their new EP ‘Orca’.
The Ben Carter Quartet is a modern jazz quartet that brings a youthful and refreshing energy to the Midlands jazz scene. Made up of exciting young jazz musicians, including Tom Henery (guitar), Angus Sharp (bass) and Freddie Osman Dal (drums), the group is led by Ben Carter (saxophone) and captures audiences with their vibrant feel and group interplay.
The Wayside Serenaders
The Wayside Serenaders are a strictly acoustic street band of oppressed unfortunates led by A. J. Olly Tyrant, who sing and play folk, gospel and occasional old-time jazz on a variety of instruments, very few of them conventional.
They specialise in amateurism and ineptitude, and believe that it is far better to have a go than to worry about whether one is any good. Thus, they attempt to bring a faint pewter glimmer edging to the dark stratocumulus of these turbulent times.
Their essential message? Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think!
Dont miss their photograph below!
Website: serenaders.uk
The Ben Shankland Quartet
Winner of BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year, Edinburgh-born pianist and composer Ben Shankland, is swiftly gaining recognition on the UK jazz scene.
Ben’s music is born of a clear reverence for the jazz tradition and lineage, but with unmistakable personality in every phrase. Always driven by melody, yet never afraid to explore rhythm and texture, Shankland sings freely with the piano as his voice.
Currently, he regularly performs with his trio, and besides leading projects, Ben is in demand as a sideman performing and recording with various bands, alongside both up-and-coming and well-established musicians.
He has featured at numerous UK jazz festivals, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Birmingham.
Combining an ever-expanding catalogue of original music with carefully selected and arranged renditions of classics, his combination of ‘lyricism with drive and precision’ (The Scotsman) has garnered praise from audiences and critics alike.
For Fest26, Ben is joined by Sophie Gilbert, (Vocals), James Owston, (Double Bass), and Euan Palmer, (Drums), for what promises to be the climax to this year’s Festival.
Jazz Festival 26 Refreshments
Our local Foresters Scouts will be offering a variety of light refreshments during afternoon and early evening to raise funds for their own wide range of activities, including Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Young Leaders.
KBJC are delighted to welcome them to our events to help support youngsters from our community.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Kings Bromley Village Hall, 35 Alrewas Road, King's Bromley, United Kingdom
GBP 24.50 to GBP 29.50
