Welcome to the Scottish Jazz Federation Website. We aim to provide a one-stop site for information on Scottish jazz musicians, venues, gigs, promoters, educators and much more. See the about us section for more information on our organisation and board of Trustees. See our current brochure below featuring all our Award Winers for 2011 / 12 period.
Latest Downloads available:
Latest News click here
Scottish Jazz Awards 2012 Nominate your favourites until June 1st here
Creative Scotland Music Review - fill out Consultation form here
Jazz Education in Scotland 2012 database survey. If you are involved in jazz education let us have your details – just click here
Made in Scotland 2012 (part of Made in the UK Rochester Jazz Festival, USA) link to website here
Jazz Now! Audience Development Report produced 2011 click here
Full Jazz Education Review, produced 2011 click here
Jazz from Scotland Brochure 2011/2012
Medium Scale Touring Pilot – Scotland
The Scottish Jazz Federation (SJF) are inviting jazz artists and bands resident in Scotland to register their interest for touring support slot opportunities with Internationally recognised bands touring during November 2012 and April / May 2013. To do this you will need to register your interest with the SJF by Monday May 21st 2012 by email; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone 01368 866895. This does not guarantee that your band will be successful in any selection process. Selections will be made by the seven venue promoters who partner our current pilot touring project. Their choice is final.
All venues involved in our medium scale touring pilot can supply equalities statements on request.
We expect artists to have given serious consideration to what they hope to achieve from a support slot with International Artists touring in Scotland. This pilot project has been made possible through funding investment from Creative Scotland and the seven partner venues.
You will need to meet the following criteria:
- Be resident in Scotland (majority of band members)
- Have a product i.e. current CD or digital release
- Be market ready in performance and presentation
- Have a significant and demonstrable profile in Scotland
- Have support from an agent/manager/label or be capable of managing these functions yourself
- Have a clear rationale for wishing to support an International artist touring in Scotland
- Be available in the following touring period: 25 – 30 November 2012 inclusive and 28 April to 4th May 2013 inclusive
If you have noted interest and are available for above dates you will be required to provide an EPK (electronic press kit), with the following, by Friday May 25th 2012. This date is non-negotiable:
- 3 mp3s of your music - approx 15mb in size (this must be current and reflective of the band that will tour)
- A link to any Youtube or film footage of your band
- Artist/Band biography as word document (.doc) or PDF (.pdf)
- Press Cuttings and reviews in one PDF (.pdf)
- Hi-Res photograph in .jpeg format (300 dpi). (No PDFs)
- A word document (.doc) or PDF (.pdf) details of whom to contact – whether this is you or an agent/manager/label. We need the name, address, telephone number and e-mail of that person.
Please make sure all your files indicate the artist/band name in the title.
Register your band electronically by sending a zip file to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Further help on creative a Zip file on PC and MAC and what to do if your email bounces, is available here
The full list of winners from the Parliamentry Jazz Awards held on 16th May is as follows:
Jazz Musician of the Year - Bobby Wellins
Bobby Wellins was born Robert Coull Wellins in Glasgow on 24th January 1936. Bobby’s father started him on lessons on alto saxophone at 12. Bobby’s recording career started in 1956 when he joined the legendary Buddy Featherstonhaugh’s piano-less quintet, the line-up of which featured Kenny Wheeler on trumpet. In the early 1960′s Bobby was recruited by Tony Crombie for his latest band, in the ranks of which Bobby began a long association with the great British pianist Stan Tracey. In a bedsit with Laurie Morgan and using an old tape recorder, Bobby began work on his famous Culloden Moor Suite which culminated in its performance by the New Departures Quartet and a 14 piece orchestra. That quartet recorded an album of the same name in 1964. This was followed in 1965 by the Stan Tracey Quartet’s recording of an suite of pieces inspired by Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.
Critics and fans agree that he is playing as well as at any other time in a remarkable six decades in the vanguard of British jazz
DEADLINE - MAY 21ST, 2012
Musicians Benevolent Fund has launched new Emerging Excellence Awards
• Grants of up to £3,000 available
• Awards open to individual musicians, composers and groups
Talented emerging musicians are invited to apply to a new funding programme to help them on the road to a successful career.
The Emerging Excellence Awards offer grants up to £3,000 to individual musicians, composers and groups working in any genre, to fund an important development opportunity, project or extended programme of activity that will have a lasting impact on their professional career.
The Awards particularly encourage innovation and entrepreneurialism, with the ultimate aim of helping young artists develop a distinctive profile in a crowded marketplace and equip them to pursue their ambitions.
Examples could include a period of intensive coaching, a specialised short course, a creative residency, or collaboration with other artists.
Applications will be considered under three tiers:
· small grants of up to £500
· development grants of between £500 and £1,500
· large grants of over £1,500
Shortlisted applicants seeking more than £1,500 will be asked to pitch their project idea to a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style panel of experts.
The scheme also offers some applicants the opportunity to attend a 'DNA' (Development Needs Analysis) session with a specialist advisor to help them refine their project proposal and identify the best way to achieve their career ambitions.
David Sulkin, Chief Executive, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for some of the most talented and adventurous young musicians to receive targeted support towards their creative and professional development. We know from recent research that the first few years in the profession can be a struggle and the Musicians Benevolent Fund wants to help address that”.
The first round of applications closes at 9am on Monday 21 May, with further rounds to follow later in 2012.
Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30, be able to demonstrate musical excellence and financial need, and already be achieving significant impact in their field.
For more information about the Emerging Excellence Awards and how to apply, visithelpmusicians.org.uk/eea
For more information about the Musicians Benevolent Fund, visit helpmusicians.org.uk
Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra Concert
Next FYJO concert takes place on 15th of June, in the Cupar Baptist Church, Bonnygate, Cupar, 7.30 pm. Tockets £7 adults, £5 children.
Visit the website here for up to date information on future concerts and summer school.
JAZZ NORTH WIN BID FOR AGENCY IN NORTH OF ENGLAND
A consortium with the working title ‘Jazz North’, led by jazz development agency Jazz Yorkshire, has been successful in their bid to set up a new North area jazz agency. Jazz North is a consortium of experienced delivery organisations and individuals which will build a new northern jazz delivery model, based on collective partnerships.
The new agency will support the existing jazz sector across the North and will lead the development of both artform and audiences across the three regions North West, Yorkshire and North East.
Click on "Read More" for full story/
