There’s been a lot of jazz about in Birmingham and the Midlands in 2011 in the way of smaller pub gigs but a little less in the way of big concerts.

Much credit for the former is due to the Cobweb Collective musicians who have been putting on weekly gigs at the Spotted Dog in Digbeth, as well as The Yardbird, and have now added The Drum as a venue as well.

Birmingham Jazz had to conserve its funds, and so reduced its programme in order to preserve its high standards.

The long-established Birmingham International Jazz Festival blanketed the city with jazz for free in the summer, while the two youthful festivals, Mostly Jazz and Harmonic, grew even stronger.

These are the 10 ticketed events I got the most from in 2011, in date order:

Steve Lehman Octet, CBSO Centre: The chance to hear what is going on at the cutting edge of jazz in New York, from a composer who allies some of the preoccupations of contemporary “classical” music with the instrumentation, energy and rhythmic feel of jazz.

Uri Caine meets Mahler, Birmingham Town Hall: Caine and his musicians leave specific genre way behind, reminding us that great music is just that.

Hans Koller Sextet, CBSO Centre: The London-based pianist and composer has close ties with Birmingham, coming here once a week to teach jazz students at Birmingham Conservatoire.

We educated and entertained in equal measure. Jazz that’s cliche-free.

Ralph Towner and Paolo Fresu, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock: If no one could quite match Towner for a personal sound, Paolo Fresu does pretty well. Like the guitarist, the trumpeter speaks so naturally through his instrument, with great taste, great subtlety, and with a quiet fire.

Sid Peacock’s Surge, MAC: This band and this music has a clear musical lineage – that tussle of order and chaos and riding the balancing line between them. Peacock is upfront and honest as a disciple of Django Bates, and to prove it Django was there as special guest.

Marius Neset Quartet, Earlsdon Cottage, Coventry: I have never before witnessed a horn player with quite the sophistication of timing, rhythm and attack that the 25-year-old Norwegian displayed here, not to mention the power and exhilaration with which he filled the room. This was my gig of the year.

Percy Pursglove’s Enchanted Heart, Harmonic Festival, MAC: The Harmonic co-director was playing trumpet and sometimes double bass with his good friend, pianist Hans Koller. It was all acoustic and intimate.

Food, Harmonic Festival, MAC: Drummer Thomas Stronen is simply fascinating to watch, and inspiring to listen to. Saxophonist Iain Ballamy decorates the space and then manipulates it into washes and bleeps.

Kairos 4tet, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock: The recent MOBO winners with saxophonist Adam Waldmann forgoing solo honours in favour of Ivo Neame, Jasper Hoiby and Jon Scott.

Meadow, CBSO Centre: Meadow is a refreshing take on the trio format, saxophonist Tore Brunborg, drummer Thomas Stronen and pianist John Taylor appearing happy to forego a bass-player and explore the different dynamics that sets up in a band.

It was a joy to be able to hear them in musical conversation.