Jazz breaking news: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Funding Changes
Friday, June 8, 2012
Following positive meetings between Creative Scotland and Scottish National Jazz Orchestra director Tommy Smith, fears that the SNJO may suffer swingeing funding cuts have been assuaged as both parties are to seek new funding routes through a combination of government funds and National Lottery grants.
SNJO have been given the opportunity to apply for funds for up to a 24-month period that may contain many projects, crucial for future planning, especially when it concerns booking national and international guest artists, and commissioning global composers and arrangers for new works. These lottery applications may also include educational and international development with the final funding decision from Creative Scotland. In a statement Smith said; “All in all, and looking at the picture of Scotland’s Arts from Creative Scotland’s point of view, they could only follow this direction or face a much greater artistic loss when they had their core budget reduced by the Scottish Government.”
He continued; “If they had not opened the lottery direction for the 49 flexibly funded organizations we would have seen 20 companies slashed directly from the artistic panorama or a 25% reduction across the board. The new competitive lottery investment programme is the only way forward, at present, for the SNJO and its youth orchestra, especially in the face of deep cuts in public spending imposed by the UK Government. All we can focus on at this juncture, is to present and prepare the best possible application and artistic vision we can envisage.”
The SNJO, who recently performed with Kurt Elling at the Jazz Sous Les Pommiers Festival in Normandy, don’t want for musical friends in high places and renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker, with whom they recently toured, gave his emphatic backing as to the importance of the SNJO and its role in Scottish cultural life. In an open letter Brecker said, “This ensemble is absolutely World Class and is certainly the best jazz orchestra in all of Europe – and I’ve played with all of them. The difference? Two words: Tommy Smith. Besides being a virtuoso saxophonist he is, more importantly, (for this situation) a composer, arranger, and bandleader who I would compare to only one man: Duke Ellington. Like the Maestro, Tommy has put together an ensemble of first-class instrumentalists, all of whom are unique, original soloists and expressive artists. This gives Tommy the chance to write for the soloists in the band thus giving the band a personal identity that is quite hard to come by in this day and age. This takes the group from the realm of being a ‘Repertory Orchestra’ into being a living, breathing organism. Their recent CD release Celebration on the world famous and esteemed ECM label is proof of this.”
He also added, “Jazz might have been born in the USA, but is now acknowledged and played the world over and taught in universities and conservatoires from Perth to Glasgow, from Moscow to Edinburgh. Moreover, the reason that many of these music schools are alive and doing well, is the fact that there are so many jazz applicants. To survive in the competitive musical world of today, one needs to have many musical genres at ones disposal. The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra should be a full time touring ensemble spreading the world of Scottish culture and should be given every consideration that the so-called ‘Classical’ ensembles and orchestras are afforded. It would be absolutely criminal if lack of funding caused this great orchestra to remain silent.”
For more info www.snjo.co.uk
– Mike Flynn
Here’s a great live video of the band from their recent gig at 31st Festival Jazz Sous Les Pommiers, Coutances, France on 16 May – the clip features solos from drummer Alyn Cosker and Tommy Smith.