It's fair to say that in recent years Huddersfield Jazz, the town’s original society for jazz enthusiasts, has struggled for its very survival.
As far back as 2011, the club held a meeting to discuss its future; and a re-launch last summer failed to revive the flagging fortunes of a group that formed back in 1987 but has faced funding cuts and long-term financial difficulties.
However, jazz fans are a hardy and tenacious breed and so Huddersfield Jazz has picked itself up once more and embarked on a new season of gigs at a pristine new venue.
With a line-up of some of the best names in jazz, a new-look website and new partnerships in the offing, it’s hoped that the organisation really has turned the corner.
As the group’s publicity officer, Laurie Stead, former jazz correspondent for the Examiner, says: “We’re still Huddersfield Jazz but we now present The Jazz Room in association with Heritage Quay at Huddersfield University.
“We decided to re-launch with a new image and we’re hoping that being on the university campus we’ll get student interest.”
They’ve got new member Paul Scarth to thank for jazzed-up programme leaflets and a website that even features a regular podcast by Laurie, who selects and plays a mix of jazz to promote the season’s gigs on a monthly basis.
The first gig of the season, tomorrow at 8pm in the university’s new archive centre in the Central Services building, features one of the country’s most distinguished alto saxophonists, Martin Speake, and his quartet. April 23 brings the Dan Whieldon Trio and trumpeter Richard Iles; and May 21 sees the return of the John Etheridge Trio North, an ensemble popular with local audiences.
The June gig, which ends the season, is a special Sunday afternoon event with double bassist and vocalist Nicola Farnon and her ensemble, but will not be at Heritage Quay.
“We’ve never had an afternoon gig before,” added Laurie, “but we thought we’d give it a try. It will be the only one NOT in Heritage Quay. It’s at Cafe Society in Huddersfield.”
Now that the society has links with the university, its committee members want to give young musicians the chance to showcase their talents by playing as ‘warm-up’ acts for the main performers. And the university is promoting and selling tickets for gigs.
Huddersfield Jazz formerly hosted events at The Keys in central Huddersfield but this venue is now home to Jazz at The Keys.
Both organisations are no doubt hoping that Huddersfield has a big enough pool of jazz fans to support not just one, but two clubs dedicated to the cause.
For details of The Jazz Room events visit huddersfield-jazz.co.uk.
Tickets are available from the website, above, or the university’s iPoint on the campus.
