Approaching 90 And The Awards Still Roll In For Andy Hamilton MBE

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Orocabessa by Andy Hamilton & The Blue Notes

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Andy with US Sax star Scott Hamilton at Andy's 89th Birthday Party in Bearwood Corks

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NOW UP - OROCABESSA VIDEO

Andy Hamilton has been making music in Birmingham since he arrived in the UK in 1950. No, as he approaches his 90th Birthday, he's still reaping the rewards. In this years New Years Honours he was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) by the British Government. Then, just this week, he receved a Fellowship of the Birmingham Conservatoire.

During the last year he has performed with members of legendary Cuban bands Irakere and the Buena Vista Social Club and starred in the Glasgow Jazz Festival in a concert put together by Dennis Rollins which featured veteran Jazz musicians from Jamaica now resident in the UK.

Birthday Bonanza features Courtney Pine, Scott Hamilton and more

In the UK the Queen has two Birthdays, while Andy Hamilton has two Parties (minimum). This year the regular Birthday Party at Bearwood Corks Club will be on Thursday the 27th and features Andy's favourite Sax player, US Tenor player Scott Hamilton, while the day (Wed 26th) before the city of Birmingham pay their tribute with a special concert at the newly refurbished Birmingham Town Hall

The Town Hall Party will feature some of the artists who guested on Andy Hamilton's classic Silvershine album. There could even be another Birthday bash at the Drum Arts Centre in Aston on the Sunday after. 

This story is an update to a story published last year. The origilal story is below, whie you can get the individual stories in moe depth byclicking on the pictures and videos.

Original Story: 

89 And Counting - Jazz Veteran Andy Hamilton Still Blows A Storm 

At 89 Birmingham based Jazz maestro Andy Hamilton is still playing as well as ever. Last year his Jazz Club in Bearwood played host to Grammy winning Saxophonist David Murray along with Hal "Cornbread" Singer, and in September another Grammy winner, Irakere drummer, Enrique Plá will be joining Andy on stage at Bearwood Corks Club.

Next March Andy will hit his Ninetieth Birthday and Corks will host the party of a lifetime. Last year his special Birthday guest Scott Hamilton (pictured) played to a packed house. There will also be a Birthday concert at the newly refurbished Birmingham Town Hall which we're hoping will feature pop star Steve Winwood who, as a teenager, played with Andy Hamilton.

Born in Port Antonio, Jamaica in 1918 while the First World War was still raging the story of how he built his first Saxophone from bamboo is now the stuff of legend. before coming to England Andy was Musical Director on Errol Flynn's yacht, the Zaca. He arrived in the UK in 1950 and has gone on to be the mainstay of Jazz in Birmingham and the West Midlands. In 1990 he recorded Silvershine on the now famous World Circuit Record Label and on the occasion of his eightieth Birthday he was invited to Windsor Castle to take tea with the Queen and the Duke of Edingburgh.

To whet your appetite we've uploaded some video of Andy Hamilton playing with David Murray and Hal Singer at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham as well as a clip from the Drum in Aston that was taken on his 88th Birthday. In the Drum video Andy plays his his best known tune, Silvershine which he wrote for Errol Flynn.

You'll find more specific information on the photo and video pages. This article may well be updated in coming months, so watch this space. 

Related links

Bearwood Jazz

Andy Hamilton's Jazz

World Circuit Records

The Drum

Town Hall and Symphony Hall