Soweto Kinch, Fergus McCreadie and Rachel Cohen to perform at Jazz Promotion Network Conference in Birmingham

This year’s Jazz Promotion Network Conference takes place at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 31 October and 1 November for two packed days and nights of discussion panels and showcase performances.

Starting at 1pm on 31 Oct at B:Music (Symphony Hall) with Soweto Kinch’s Keynote address, conference sessions will cover Inclusivity in Jazz, International working post-Brexit, Jazz and the Radio and Jazz Labels. Panels will discuss contrasting approaches to supporting emerging artists, and potential training methods for those aiming to work in different areas of the music industry. Confirmed speakers include:  Pelin Opcin (Serious/EFG London Jazz Festival), Alex Carr (B:Music/Cheltenham Jazz Festival), Thomas Rees (Freelance Producer, BBC Radio 3’s  J to Z), Claire Umney and Christian Bragg (Jazz FM), Janine Irons (Tomorrow’s Warriors), Alanna Henry (Jazz Refreshed), Heather Spencer (Jazz North and JPN), Julia Payne (The Hub UK), and Matt Fripp (Jazzfuel). 

A full day at Birmingham City University (BCU) on 1 Nov starts with a Spotlight on the Birmingham Jazz Scene from Alex Carr (B:Music), Jeremy Price (RBC/(Eastside Jazz Club), Pedro Cravinho, (National Jazz Archive/BCU Satellite), plus promoters Amy Coates (Fizzle), Tony Dudley-Evans (TDE Promotions), Phil Rose (Birmingham Jazz), Sam Slater (Stoney Lane Live) and Guilia Maro (Cherry Reds). 

The afternoon includes presentations, chaired by Emily Jones, by the four current Cheltenham Jazz Festival/Jerwood Jazz Encounters artists - Marcus Joseph, Andrew Woodhead, Piera Onacko and Raheel Khan, and their approaches to presenting jazz in new ways and contexts. 

The much-discussed topic of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and its legal and ethical implications for the music industry will be discussed by speakers Orphy Robinson (JPN Trustee/Ivors Academy), Dr Melissa Avdeef (University of Stirling), Dr Patrycja Rozbicka (Aston University),  and more. 

BCU has a strong record of research projects connected with jazz, and a Jazz Studies Research Showcase will present projects in partnership with the National Youth Jazz Collective, Cheltenham Jazz Festival andTomorrow’s Warriors.

In parallel with the above, Julia Payne will host a session specifically designed for volunteer jazz promoters to explore areas of common interest and concern.

The Showcase And Performance Programme

TUE 31 OCT and WED 1 NOV - 18.00-22.45

For the first time, the event will include a showcase programme on both evenings drawn from right across the UK/Ireland. The choices were made by an independent expert panel based across the UK, from nominations made by JPN members and other trusted partners and will include:

• From Ireland: solo improviser and composer Bianca Gannon, awarded the 2022/2023 BANBAM Award from Dublin’s Improvised Music Company and Belfast’s Moving on Music.
• From Wales: Duski. A trio led by bassist Aidan Thorne signed to US label Ropeadope- active this year promoting their latest album ‘Pillowtalk Sessions vol 1’.  Their name is a play on the Welsh word DYSGU meaning ‘to learn and to teach’! 
• From Scotland: Seonaid Aitken Ensemble: Presenting their latest album Sakura, an ensemble of women and non-binary artists led by composer and broadcaster Seonaid Aitken, who shine in their fields of jazz, improvisation and classical music. 
• From Scotland: Aku! This hard-boiled trio of Glasgow’s top musicians AKU! make a powerful statement fusing noise-rock, Afrobeat and hip-hop, following in the footsteps of artists including Death Grips, Sons of Kemet, Fela Kuti and The Thing.
• From England: Marco Woolf: Richard Kankondo (Marco Woolf) is a current Jazz North ‘Northern Line’ artist. His latest release, “Francine, I” – on Phlexx Records in July - follows an African woman as she migrates West for the sake of her children. 
• From England: Liam Brennan’s Collidescope – Birmingham based band formed in 2021 influenced by artists Charlie Parker, John Taylor,  Stan Sulzmann and Charles Mingus. Liam Brennan is joined by fellow Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduates James Borland, Nick Manz, Tommy Fuller  and Kai Chareunsy.

These artists are joined by three special guest ensembles: 

• Tue 31 Oct: Soweto Kinch Trio – The keynote speaker will be performing with his regular trio. 
• Wed 1 Nov: Fergus McCreadie Trio – This multi-award-winning Scottish pianist/composer is one of the most successful UK jazz artists in recent years.
• Wed 1 Nov: The Rachael Cohen Band – Shetland born saxophonist Rachael Cohen studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before moving to London. She works extensively across the UK and has become a mainstay at London clubs such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Vortex.

For full details and to register to attend visit jazzpromotionnetwork.org.uk/