Lee Griffiths Email and Phone Number

As a programme director and academic researcher specialising in jazz and improvised music, I have spent more than a decade actively involved in the UK music scene. After graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s jazz course, I embarked on a career as a freelance saxophonist, performing at major festivals such as Shambala, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and Boomtown Fair. I have performed across the UK and internationally, contributing to various recordings, including an album on Brooklyn’s 577 Records and a television episode for an AHRC-funded ECR research project.More recently, I have taken on a leadership role with Fizzle Birmingham, where I lead an ambitious programme of improvised and experimental music. Over the past three years, I have overseen a significant 88% increase in annual turnover, secured Arts Council England NLPG funding of £58,395, and collaborated closely with TDE Promotions and other partners to deliver a series of successful music programmes.My passion for jazz extends beyond performance into academia. While studying jazz performance, I developed an interest in jazz studies, which led me to pursue an MA in Media and Cultural Studies at the Birmingham School of Media. After encouragement from course leaders and examiners to continue my research career, I secured PhD funding from Midlands4Cities and recently submitted my thesis for examination. I am actively engaged with the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research, regularly presenting at seminars and conferences, contributing to peer-reviewed journals, and serving as a peer reviewer.Looking forward, I’m eager to take on a new and challenging role that allows me to combine my passion for music and the arts with my expertise in programming, research, and leadership, and where I can contribute creatively and strategically to ambitious projects.