Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts for The Body and Soul

(Press release)

Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts festival is back for its 4th year, and this time there will be a more holistic approach to help those in lockdown as it follows the theme ‘Body and Soul’. From Wednesday 6^th to Saturday 9^th May Jazz North will re-stream performances from its northern line showcase from Lancaster Jazz Festival in September 2019 and, in between performances, viewers can also do some yoga, cook a meal and drop-in to a social gathering, all online.

Broadcast from Jazz North’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, there will be performances from Jazz North northern line artists Beyond Albedo, freese trio, John Pope Quintet, Nishla Smith Quinet, Not Now Charlie, Rafe's Dilemma and SogoRock. Before each midday performance will be yoga with Jason Scott and before each 8pm performance will be a practical cooking demonstration by four experienced northern jazz chefs.

Jazz North’s Digital Director and organiser of Northern Online Broadcasts, Nigel Slee, says it’s important to add a holistic element to this year’s festival. “The online world is very different to when the festival first started four years ago,” he says. “This year it’s not just the music, but the whole experience of a festival that can help people in this lockdown. It’s important to remember the whole body – we need to think about exercise and eating properly in order to live a balanced life. So, we’ve packed it all in to make an exciting programme of music, exercise, food, get togethers, interviews and discussions - what better way to incorporate that festival vibe, where you can experience food from around the world and do a yoga morning session, than to include it in our online festival? It’s a great way to try something new, feel good and enjoy the best jazz the north has to offer.”

Presenters Megan Roe (J Frisco) and John Pope (Archipelago, Ponyland and his own Quintet) will pull this full schedule together, which also includes panel discussions with European jazz festival directors and national jazz organisations, as well as an opportunity for artists to socialise at afternoon Zoom drop ins. Megan and John will be interviewing artists and promoters from different areas in the north for ‘Northern Scenes’ – a chance to find out anything from how they are reacting to the current situation to what it’s like being involved with Jazz North’s northern line.

• Tue 5 May 2pm - Pre-festival Zoom Drop In for promoters (contact Lucy@jazznorth.org to join)
• Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts
  Wednesday 6^th - Saturday 9^th May 11am – 9pm:
• Every day – interviews, panel discussions, 11.30am yoga, 7.30pm cooking classes
• Wed 6 May
• 12pm – freese trio
• 2pm – Zoom Drop In for Jazz North artists (contact Lucy@jazznorth.org to join)
• 8pm – John Pope Quintet
• Thurs 7 May
• 12pm - Nishla Smith Quinet
• 2pm – Zoom Drop In for northern artists (contact Lucy@jazznorth.org to join)
• 8pm - Beyond Albedo
• Fri 8 May
• 12pm - Not Now Charlie
• 8pm - Rafe's Dilemma
• Sat 9 May
• 12pm - SogoRock
• 8pm - Viewer’s Choice picked from Jazz North’s Northern Online Broadcasts from Manchester Jazz Festival 2018
• Salvo’s – a family run Leeds Italian restaurant and salumeria. Owner Gip Dammone is an avid jazz enthusiast and founder member of Leeds's legendary DIG! Family, chroniclers of the jazz and groove underground in the north of England from the mid 1980's through to today. Gip has cooked for countless artists including James Brown and Jimmy Smith.
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• The Corner Café – a family run Leeds Indian restaurant run by Karin and Kate that welcomes regulars UK jazz artists Ed Jones, Matt Roberts and Matt Anderson.
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• Geoff Amos – a seasoned 50-year veteran of the UK jazz scene, artist tour manager and festival manager of the Brecon Jazz Festival. As a tour manager Geoff has come to the rescue on numerous occasions when faced with closed restaurants and unsuitable menu options. Geoff has cooked for US jazz legends Bobby Hutcherson and McCoy Tyner plus Van Morrison, John Etheridge, Mats Gustafsson and northern favourites Nikki Iles and Mike Walker.
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• Jazz North is the jazz development agency in the north funded by Arts Council England as a sector support organisation. Established in 2012 with a ground-breaking approach to supporting and nurturing jazz across the north, it uses the power of collective partnership working to build networks between musicians, educators, promoters and venues, to grow audiences for jazz and to inspire children and young people to make music.

www.jazznorth.org