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This is the time of the year that jazz festivals spring into action after months of preparation and sometimes years of booking in advance. We have a quick chat about the Upton upon Severn Festival this week. They are holding their 26th event. Then there’s the ‘Mostly Jazz Festival’ which takes place at the beginning of July in Moseley Park in Birmingham. In the weeks to come there will be plenty more to talk about. Musically we go from the twenties and Bix Beiderbecke with the Paul Whiteman orchestra through the thirties with Coleman Hawkins in Europe right up to the time when the Peter King Quartet played at the first Titley Jazz festival in Herefordshire last year and looking ahead to the second at the end of July. Also we shall hear Ben Holder playing with Gypsy Fire and a very young Herbie Hancock in his pre-electric days!