The Founder of BJazz was George West who decided a regular club venue was needed and set one up; its first base was the splendid Grand Hotel in the city centre.
George was supported by a group of jazz fan volunteers including the late William Shaw (who have also started JazzCoventry the year before) & Phil Rose who was destined to become the Artistic Director in 2012.
From the early 1980s an expanded group of enthusiasts carried BJazz forward, creating a Charity and Company status.
The venue changed to the Strathallen on Hagley Road presenting the new jazz stars part of the 1980’s explosion of interest.
The next year, Ways into Improvisation was expanded to include Holyhead Secondary and Grestone Primary Schools.