BMJ Collective with Mike Outram — A Night of Music, Chemistry, and a Misbehaving Speaker
There’s something special about evenings at Black Mountain Jazz in Abergavenny — the atmosphere, the audience, the sense that anything can happen once the first note is played.
The recent BMJ Collective performance with the incredible Mike Outram was exactly that kind of night.
The recent BMJ Collective performance with the incredible Mike Outram was exactly that kind of night.
From the moment the musicians stepped on stage at The Melville Theatre, the room felt alive. Mike’s effortless guitar playing blended beautifully with the BMJ Collective tutors, who continue to grow stronger and more cohesive with every performance. It’s always fascinating to watch them work with their guest artists — you’d never guess that they don’t rehearse together beforehand. The chemistry is instant, intuitive, and full of energy.
And then there was the moment that made the evening even more memorable:
the speaker with a mind of its own.
Halfway through the gig, one of the speakers decided it wanted a solo. A soft hum turned into its own kind of performance — definitely not in the setlist. Without missing a beat, Mike Outram calmly slipped behind the curtains to fetch a smaller backup speaker. The audience laughed, the band kept the mood light, and within minutes the music was flowing again. Those little unscripted moments always add an extra layer of charm to live music.
the speaker with a mind of its own.
Halfway through the gig, one of the speakers decided it wanted a solo. A soft hum turned into its own kind of performance — definitely not in the setlist. Without missing a beat, Mike Outram calmly slipped behind the curtains to fetch a smaller backup speaker. The audience laughed, the band kept the mood light, and within minutes the music was flowing again. Those little unscripted moments always add an extra layer of charm to live music.
As for photographing the night — it was a joy. The warm lighting, the expressive musicians, the quiet intensity of the audience… all of it came together to create the kind of atmosphere that makes jazz photography such a pleasure. Capturing the connection between the musicians and the music is what I love most, and evenings like this make it easy.
The BMJ Collective continues to go from strength to strength, and nights like this prove exactly why. Incredible musicianship, genuine warmth, and performances that always leave you wanting more.
Here is the link to the full photo gallery, if you’d like to explore the rest of the moments from the night:
Here is the link to the full photo gallery, if you’d like to explore the rest of the moments from the night:
