Jazz breaking news: New UK jazz network launches
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Jazz Promotion Network, a newly UK jazz organisation, is attracting strong support from promoters large and small.
Sixty-five people made it to an inaugural meeting at Bristol’s Colston Hall, courtesy of Bristol Music Trust, on 9 September and as many again have registered their interest according to founding working group member Nod Knowles, former jazz supremo for Bath International Music Festival.
As he and others emphasised, there are successful networks in other countries and – a particular inspiration – an 80-member European Jazz Network. But although we have a Scottish Jazz Federation, several regional link-ups and the national information broker Jazz Services, there is no English or UK equivalent.
Simply sharing experience is high on the agenda – many of those at the meeting had not met before. A network will help stop voluntary promoters working in isolation, said John Blandford of Cambridge Modern Jazz. Other early priorities highlighted at the meeting, from a long list of possible aims, included collaboration on more 'mid-scale' tours, especially for larger ensembles playing new music, and professional development for those new to the business.
An annual industry get together for the UK, probably combined with a showcase along the lines of Germany’s successful JazzAhead, was mooted – and Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival founder Colin Gorrie proposed it should be linked to a festival, perhaps his.
All of this would go with the perennial necessities of audience development, education and lobbying – in hopes of growing the pot for promoters and musicians alike. All present agreed that the initial working group should now tie-up its not for profit incorporation, then begin collecting (modest) membership fees and electing a board of trustees. Then will come funding applications to begin to realise some of the larger ambitions of the working group. “We’re going to go away now and get stuck in,” said Knowles.
For more info go to jazzpromotionnetwork.org.uk
– Jon Turney