Genre really is dead - Gen Z killed it
Introducing New Jazz on Mixcloud
I have to give props to the brilliant Water & Music newsletter that I received this morning, which refers to this stat:
97% of Gen Z girls and women listen to at least five genres on the regs (Sweety High). Although this figure is from 2018, it provides further insight into how UK Jazz has been discovered by its biggest audience for decades.
Looking at the current UK top 10, you see indie-pop, drill, grime, EDM and a sea shanty. A five second extract of Nathan Evans’ Wellerman, will be all it takes to pick out elements of traditional music, dance and europop.
UK Jazz has long been a delicious gumbo of various ingredients; afrobeat, hip-hop, grime, soca, calypso - I could go on; a pot of music, particularly from across the African and Caribbean Diaspora, all stirred up with the American Jazz tradition.
Jazz is so much more than a style of music, so take a wide view when I say that Jazz has long been destroying the notion of genre. In a happy accident and without creative sacrifice, UK Jazz musicians compliment the listening habits of Gen Z and other older streamers; its variety is always exciting, always surprising. It’s one of the many reasons as to how UK Jazz has broken through.
Listen to New Jazz on Mixcloud, a monthly collection of new music that keeps you up to date on fresh releases. This month, we feature Amanda Whiting, Thandi Ntuli, Tamil Rogeon and Don Cherry. Listen and subscribe.
New music Radar
Now - Moses Boyd dropped a fresh take on 2 Far Gone ft Katy B. It’s killer.
Now - Pinty has dropped a garage-tinged treat, Comfort Me, ft Emma-Jean Thackray.
26 March - Producer John Morales has remixed some Teena Marie tracks for BBE.
9 April - Renowned Welsh harpist Amanda Whiting is releasing her album After Dark.
23 April - Alfa Mist is unleashing his hotly-anticipated Bring Backs album.
Jobs and opportunities in Jazz and beyond
Robert Farhat at Serious wants to hear from Digital Marketing Specialists that work directly with artists. Contact him at rob.farhat @ serious.org.uk
There’s a lot of roles to check out with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, whose alumni include Amy Winehouse, Yazz Ahmed and Dennis Rollins.
Ghostly International (Shigeto / Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith/Brijean) want a UK/EU Label Manager.
In Paris, Spotify want an Editor.
Bandcamp would like a Software Engineer to join the team.
Could you be a Marketing Officer for Brighton Dome’s Music Eduction Service?
AEI Group would like a Licensing and Publishing Manager.
Sound UK are seeking a part time Communications Manager.
News and Notable
Dr Sarah Raine and Emily Jones have unearthed some worrying truths for women in jazz. Read more in The Guardian.
Kevin Le Gendre interviewed legend Sonny Rollins for Jazzwise.
Twelve artists have joined the Abram Wilson Foundation’s career development programme.
Attitude is Everything! are working with JPN to offer Disability Equality and Customer Care Training.
Moses Boyd is back on the telly this Friday, on Later with Jools…
Laura Mvula is performing a live stream on 24 Feb. Get tickets.
Bristol based Run Logan Run have a series of live streams coming up, kicking off on 28 February with guest Matthew Bourne.
We Make Events today launch their new campaign #GovCantSeeUs
I love a cowbell. Check out my new mix dedicated to that humble little ding.
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Thank you, Tina x
