Many years ago back in 2011, when I started coming to Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party, the party felt like a bit of a secret. To the outside world, it was an odd conglomeration of jazz musicians, music fans over 60 years of age who really loved jazz, and me: then a 20-year-old university student who was frequently confused for a musician as one of the younger people in the room. All of this happened in the Village Hotel, which had just been built on an empty industrial estate. I had no idea back then when I walked into that room what a big part of my life this festival would go on to become.
Festival founder Mike Durham died in March 2013 after a short illness. Mike’s wife, Patti, didn’t hesitate to keep the Classic Jazz Party weekend going. Keith Nichols, Frans Sjöström, and Mike had already confirmed the musicians for that year’s Party and arranged the concert schedule. I was already on board looking after bits of admin. In recent years, we’ve also sadly lost Keith and Frans. Michael McQuaid took over as musical director and from 2025 we’re looking forward to the amazing Colin Hancock joining us as co-musical director. If Mike, Keith, and Frans were looking down upon us at the 2024 Party, they would have been delighted.
Why do I tell you all of this? The Classic Jazz Party has never been an event where we, as organizers, sit away from everyone. All of
Trumpeter James O’Donnell: The Motor City Jazz Maestro
Brian Sheridan
