How jazz can help bring Scotland’s image into the 21st century

The Scottish Jazz Federation will be launched at the Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 12 December 2006) to help home-grown jazz contribute to Scotland’s international brand.

The Scottish Jazz Federation is a new arts organisation which seeks to develop the two key interests of Scottish jazz: excellence and access. The SJF has already begun to harmonize and co-ordinate activity across the country and seeks to create opportunities for the people of Scotland to appreciate, learn about and participate in jazz.

Jazz in Scotland is currently undergoing a renaissance and is developing a new and unique voice which can be heard internationally – the fusion of contemporary jazz and indigenous traditional music. Internationally acclaimed artists like Tommy Smith and Martin Taylor, based in Scotland but working internationally, embody the spirit of a new cultural jazz powerhouse in Scotland.

One of the SJF’s next priorities is to expand the handful of highly successful regional jazz orchestras into a network covering Scotland. Indications are that this could be done for a modest level of subsidy from each local authority. Hundreds of Scottish children are already exploring and enjoying the creativity unique to this genre of music – that number could become thousands and help create a sustainable future for Scottish jazz.

Hosting the event, Greens' co-leader Robin Harper MSP, said, "I am passionate about unleashing jazz as a new cultural force in Scotland. The creativity and virtuosity of our players is a matter of national pride and deserves to be much higher up the cultural agenda."

Dave Batchelor, SJF Chairman, said "The Scottish Jazz Federation signals the commitment of everyone in the jazz scene to work together to realise our ambitions for jazz. It is a very exciting moment for Scottish jazz."

Ian Smith, Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council, said, "We support and welcome the creation of the Scottish Jazz Federation as a vital part of this department’s commitment to sectoral development for the music industry in Scotland. We will be committing to increased support for jazz, as a vital component of the international success of this industry and as a key element of Scotland’s cultural identity as we move confidently towards Creative Scotland."

Richard Michael, Director of Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra, said, "I have over 100 students learning jazz. They benefit from working hard to achieve virtuosity, as part of a creative group, while finding their own voice through the improvisational core of jazz."