THSH: Jazzlines Ensemble History of the Blues with Xhosa Cole

While our iconic venues are closed as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, Jazzlines Ensemble continue to meet online.

The Jazzlines Ensembles provide young musicians from Birmingham and the surrounding areas with the opportunity to develop their ensemble playing skills and learn more about jazz and improvisation through regular workshops and masterclass sessions. The sessions are open to young musicians of all abilities, from beginners to advanced and are FREE to young musicians aged between 11 and 19 from Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

▬ Contents ▬

0:00​ Introduction to the History of the Blues with Xhosa Cole
2:54​ Roots
6:58​ Birth of the Blues
15:45 Lyrics
20:08 Tension and Resolution

Xhosa is an embodiment of the success of numerous music outreach programs within Birmingham, including Town Hall Symphony Hall's Jazzlines. As a saxophonist, Flautist, Composer and Producer, Xhosa has played, studied and collaborated with a wide range of world-class musicians and composers.

The Handsworth-born musician has played in the Jazzlines Ensemble, Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra and Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra among others. While studying in sixth form, Xhosa attended courses with the National Youth Jazz Collective and National Youth Wind Orchestra. He performs and teaches regularly around Birmingham.