Last night on UK Jazz Radio, Frank Griffith interview NYJO’s Executive Chairman Nigel Tully. Nigel spoke about the past, present and future of perhaps one of the best jazz orchestras around. As Sir John Dankworth once said ” forget about the youth bit, they are one of the finest jazz orchestras I have ever played with.
If you ever feel as though the youth of our world is not quite as it should be, go along to London’s Cockpit theatre on any Saturday morning, and you will see around 80 or more young people gathering with one common love; Music.
Some of these young musicians travel long distances to be a part of The National Youth Jazz Orchestra. They come from Doncaster, the Ilse of White, Brighton; all over the country.
They rehearse for three hours, playing in part some really challenging arrangements. Most of the young musicians are there every Saturday some every other Saturday and they tackle the pieces of music like true professionals.
Jazz for me, and the whole reason for Uk Jazz Radio is to keep jazz alive and to do this we need young musicians. It is inspiring to be at the Cockpit Theatre, just of Church Street Market, to see these young people with one common love: Jazz.
We should never and can never forget the greats of jazz but we must also look to the future and with young musicians like those who play for NYJO we will have a jazz future. We must encourage new compositions and give these guys the facilities to present there music. We must encourage these young musicians to think outside there own comfort zone, for in jazz it is all to easy to dwell on yesteryear.
Some of Nigel Tully’s comments from the interview played last night on Uk Jazz Radio were very encouraging. To hear a progressive attitude to the future of NYJO can only be good for UK and World Jazz……
This week saw the launch of Uk Jazz Now www.ukjazznow.com…. a site for Jazz Artists Promotion, Gig Booking and it’s own Recording label…….. The ethos is no different to Uk Jazz Radio…… keep jazz alive… encourage and promote young jazz musicians….. we invite all jazz artists to join us on Uk Jazz Now….
There are a number of services on offer but for me the most exciting is the Uk Jazz Radio Showcases. Here we offer all Uk Jazz Now artists a full promotion package backed by Uk Jazz Radio…. Through the Uk Jazz Now Booking Agency, Venues will be offered a full months exposure on Uk Jazz Radio when booking one of the Uk Jazz Now artists. Two special programmes will be played at least once a day, being: Uk Jazz Now and Uk Jazz Radio Showcases Review. Both shows will feature artists and venues with interviews, reviews and music. The artists tracks will also be offered to all Uk Jazz Radio Presenters for inclusion in their own shows.
Uk Jazz Radio is now 6 months old ready to take on the challenge…… Please take a look on the Uk Jazz Radio website; at our Uk Jazz Radio Young Jazz Performers Award…. more on that next time
Its an exciting time for Uk Jazz Radio…………
Brian