Another milestone for jazz from UK Jazz Radio
UK Jazz Radio, the internet-based jazz music radio station with a global following of well over a million listeners, has unveiled the launch of a television channel dedicated purely to jazz.
To be launched in March, UK Jazz Television TM will initially be available on-line but will, within a few months, be viewable on television.
Announcing the new development, UK Jazz Radio’s Station Director John Hicks said: “Our Director of Music and Content, Brian Soundy, has been working on this project for some time now and we are now at the pre-launch stage.”
“Brian has negotiated arrangements with one of the world’s leading television content producers to stream live and recorded shows and to provide studio and professional editing facilities.” John added.
Concerts from top jazz clubs in the UK and Europe are planned as is a series of Interviews with world Jazz icons hosted by Digby Fairweather and as the National Jazz Archives Media partner, UK Jazz Radio and UK Jazz TV will donate footage. and other media.
Brian Soundy has invited jazz fans around the globe to contribute their thoughts on UK Jazz Television TM. He said: “We have added a questionnaire to our UK Jazz Radio website enabling everyone to ‘have a say’ on what shows they would like to see. For example, our flagship weekly show will be the legendary Digby Fairweather in conversation with leading jazz figures, to be archived for future generations to access, but who would jazz fans wish to see interviewed?”
This new television station, which is being geared up for HD streaming later this year, is a commercial operation, to be funded by advertising and sponsorship, but as Brian explained, it has an educational remit: “I have mentioned that we will develop an archive for future generations of jazz fans, educationalists and music fans but we also see a role for us in providing programming of an instructional content. For example, there will be recorded master classes with leading musicians and vocalists. But we welcome other suggestions and so the questionnaire will give everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas with us.”
“UK Jazz Radio has been very flexible and responsive to listener ideas and suggestions. Television is less flexible in terms of lead times for production but we hope to be able to accommodate many of the viewers’ ideas received.” Brian added.
The UK Jazz Television TM questionnaire can be found on the UK Jazz Radio website, www.ukjazzradio.com or Brian can be contacted at brian@ukjazzradio.com.
The National Jazz Archive, UK Jazz Radio and UK Jazz Television form a media partnership
The National Jazz Archive – the UK’s acknowledged research and information centre for jazz, blues and related music genre based at Central Library, Traps Hill, Essex - with UK Jazz Radio and its subsidiary, UK Jazz Television have formed a media partnership aimed at raising the national profile of the National Jazz Archive. The Archive’s founder, jazz musician and broadcaster, Digby Fairweather, said: “as this vital new internet station now reaches well over a million listeners every week worldwide, there are exciting possibilities for co-operation in promoting the National Jazz Archive, providing a visible link to our services for researchers, authors, students and jazz lovers in the UK and beyond, establishing fuller contact with other important jazz archives throughout Europe and America, and promoting our activities on the station’s popular website.”
“It is also planned to develop the oral history of jazz in Britain via filmed interviews with eminent UK performers which, from March 2011 will be televised on the station’s website.”
UK Jazz Radio will be promoting the National Jazz Archive and its regular public events.
Further information available from:
National Jazz Archive
Archivist David Nathan at: david.nathan@essex.gov.uk tel: 0208 502 0181 www.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk
Current opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am-1pm
UK Jazz Radio
Brian Soundy at:briansoundy@gmail.com
Ends
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Notes to Editors:
The National Jazz Archive (NJA) was opened for public use in 1992 at Loughton Library by the late Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine with its own dedicated premises under the continuing benevolent aegis of Essex County Council.
The purpose of the NJA is to collect and tell the stories of Jazz in the UK and to be the national hub for access to collections, information and research relating to jazz in the UK and achieving this through collaborative partnerships as well as the preservation, sustainable management, development, and active acquisition of jazz memorabilia and publications. Through education and information exchange NJA works to influence the appreciation and understanding of Jazz and its history.
The Archive has achieved a practical outreach facility, establishing duplicate collections in recognized educational centres including universities and music colleges throughout the UK.
In 2011 the NJA will present its first full-scale exhibition at London’s Barbican
Jazz UK Radio is the UK’s first internet jazz station and is available online 24 hours a day.
