The got underway in blazing sunshine at the Crowne Plaza hotel as the city prepared to welcome almost 400 musicians to the city.
In total there will be more than 210 performances in 86 venues in the city and the surrounding suburbs, with most of the events free to attend.
Highlights include Bob Kerr and his Whoopee Band, a jazz band that has been in existence since 1987.
Festival Director Jim Simpson said while the band might not offer the 鈥榤usical Monty Python鈥 mayhem of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band which Kerr founded, it would be sure to be a popular draw.
Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival organiser Jim Simpson
The festival lasts until July 14 and boasts a truly international flavour, with acts from Lithuania, the USA, Canada, Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium joining an array of home-grown musicians.
International artists appearing include Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis, described as the musical son of the legendary Stephane Grappelli and rising Lithuanian stars Sheep Got Waxed.
Lithuanian stars Sheep Got Waxed
The festival even has its own pop-up shop in the Great Western Arcade in the city centre, which will double up as a venue too. With just 12 seats it will be the smallest festival venue by some considerable distance.
Among the more unusual performers are Yardley Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming. Mr Hemming鈥檚 outfit John Hemming and the Sisters of Jazz appears at the Hotel Du Vin at 2pm聽 on Sunday July 7.
Mr Simpson said the festival was thriving more than ever and drawing new audiences in each year, with hundreds of visitors from the 海角视频 and abroad making a special visit to the city to attend.
The Remi Harris Trio
鈥淧eople鈥檚 appetite for jazz seems to be growing,鈥 he said. 鈥淎udiences are much younger now and younger audiences come without baggage, while older audiences tend to be more rigid in their tastes.
鈥淵ounger audiences come with an open mind, discover stuff and enjoy it.鈥
Councillor Carl Rice (Lab, Ladywood) praised the efforts of organisers and sponsors and said: 鈥淢ore than 200 performances in over 80 venues doesn鈥檛 happen by accident.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure all those involved will make sure everyone visiting has a fantastic and memorable experience and ensure Birmingham retains its reputation as being a lively and enterprising city where people know how to have a good time.鈥
Festival patron and jazz trumpeter Digby Fairweather said: 鈥淭he most amazing thing for me is how Jim Simpson has managed to improve and honour this magnificent festival for the last 29 years - I don鈥檛 know how he does it.鈥
* To find out what鈥檚 on visit .
Take a look back at previous jazz festivals:
