Celebrate the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival 2026 with Birmingham Museums Trust

Join us as we celebrate the 42nd year of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival with a series of pop-up performances across six of our sites. Experience live music in our iconic spaces and discover jazz in some of Birmingham's most beautiful locations.

Our jazz performance at BMAG is free of charge. Join us in the Edwardian Tea Rooms from 1-3pm.

STEVE WATERMAN   

Steve began his career while studying at Trinity College Of Music, and since then has worked regularly on the British and International jazz scene.
He has recorded 7 critically acclaimed CDs under his own name featuring many original compositions and arrangements.

BUDDY BOLDEN BLEW IT [MST 0056]
NIGHT LIGHTS [MST 0050]
OUR DELIGHT [MST 0041]
OCTOBER ARRIVAL [HYDRO CD03]
STABLEMATES [MST CD0035]
OUT OF TOUCH [ASC CD32]
DESTINATION UNKNOWN [ASC CD4]

Steve has co -written with John ONeil a highly acclaimed Jazz Trumpet tutor book -
THE JAZZ METHOD FOR TRUMPET published by Schott & Co.

In February 2019, Steve had the first performance of his Concerto for Jazz Trumpet and Orchestra with the Surrey Mozart Players at the Electric Theatre in Guildford.
In 2021, along with electronic musician and producer, Paul Hazel, “Out Of This World With Sun Ra” was released, an EP featuring new versions of classic Sun Ra compositions.
In April 2022, Steve recorded the Daryl Runswick trumpet concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Between 2020 and 2025, Steve was featured on the Ben Crosland albums, Solway Stories, Songs Of Solace And Reflection, and Harken. The latter being a 20th anniversary recording of the band Threeway, featuring keyboard player Steve Lodder and guitarist John Etheridge. This band has been touring throughout 2024 & 2025 and in July 2024 was featured on the BBC Radio 3 program, In Tune, presented by Sean Rafferty.
In May 2025, Steve was a guest soloist at the 25th annual Cape Town Big Band Festival, where he performed his new composition, “Ann’s African Odyssey”, which was composed especially for the festival.
As well as guest appearances with numerous bands, Steve is currently working with his Latin Jazz Quartet and also performing a Miles Davis tribute with his regular quartet and big band.
Steve has taught on many of the music college jazz courses such as the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. Currently, he is teaching jazz trumpet, composition and arranging at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Steve also teaches on many summer jazz courses and has conducted numerous trumpet master classes and workshops ranging in size from small groups to big bands throughout the UK, Spain, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Peru, U.S.A, Russia, South Africa and Cuba.

Full Programme

Friday 24th July, 7:30pm
Jazz at the Museum Collection Centre, in the Transport Gallery

Wednesday 29th July, 1-3pm
Jazz at Thinktank, Level 0 

Thursday 30th July 1-3pm
Jazz at Blakesley Hall, in the Gallery

Friday 31st July, 6-9pm
Twilight Jazz at Aston Hall, inside the Hall

Saturday 1st August, 1-3pm
Jazz at Sarehole Mill, in the Courtyard

Sunday 2nd August, 1-3pm
Jazz at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, in the Tearoom

Note: Bruce Adams was originally scheduled to perform at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had to cancel. Please read his message below.