Some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz have played in Huddersfield - thanks to an organisation founded 28 years ago by those who appreciate the musical genre.

And now Huddersfield Jazz is setting its sights on another 28 years with a re-launch and a new venue.

The group, which in the past has hosted everyone from the late, great saxophonists Briton Dick Morrissey and American Herb Geller to bassist Alec Dankworth (son of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth) and Yorkshire-born Clare Teal (past winner of the BBC Jazz singer of the Year title), hopes jazz enthusiasts will come forward to support the forthcoming autumn season of professional gigs.

It’s fair to say that in recent years Huddersfield Jazz had fallen on hard times, with the loss of grants from Kirklees and an increase in charges at its former venue, the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

But the organisation has picked itself up, dusted itself down and is launching a fresh series of four gigs at the Keys Restaurant in Huddersfield, starting next month.

“We have been struggling for some time,” says the HJ treasurer Felicity Barton. “Both financially and from lack of support.

“We always bring in professional musicians and that’s expensive. But we have started to use the Keys for gigs and people seem to like it, so we have decided to give it a go for the new season.”

Forthcoming attractions include leading saxophonist Snake Davis, formerly resident on Tonight With Jonathan Ross and accompanist to James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan and other notables; Parisian-style jazz and tango vocalist Gabrielle Ducomble; and trumpeter Bruce Adams, who has worked with both the Scottish Radio Orchestra and the BBC Big Band.

The season will end with a gig by Huddersfield-based all-female band the Jazz Belles.

The club, which organises eight major gigs each year, says the last season ended badly when two concerts had to be cancelled.

“We’re now having a re-launch,” says publicity officer Laurie Stead, one of HJ’s founders. “And we need to put ourselves on the map.”

Back in 1980s the Examiner itself played a part in the founding of the group. Laurie, jazz correspondent for the arts pages at the time, was contacted by a young saxophonist, Andy Wallis, and asked how he could go about starting a club for fans of the genre.

In the early days the group met at the Crown Hotel and even at Laurie’s parents’ house.

“At first we only had gigs by local musicians,” said Laurie, “but as we got more established we started booking professional musicians. Over the years we have had 11 venues in Huddersfield and an offshoot at CragRats in Holmfirth.”

Snake Davis, jazz saxophonist

Huddersfield Jazz members enjoy modern, contemporary and mainstream jazz and are almost evangelical in their desire to introduce newcomers to the music.

The chairman, Roger Sawyer, explains: “Why do we like jazz? It’s a bit Bohemian with a touch of anarchy about it; it’s less ‘popular’ than other types of music and so it’s more of a minority interest. It just appeals to some people.

“For instance, I’ve listened to opera but find it difficult to get into. But back in the Sixties, I picked up on traditional jazz and went from there to become interested in modern jazz.”

Felicity agrees that it has an ‘alternative’ appeal. “You get a lot of ‘arty’ people who love jazz,” she said.

Jazz-pop singer and songwriter Jamie Cullum has done much in recent years to popularise jazz.

With sales of more than 10 million albums he is ranked as the most successful jazz recording artist of all time.

Roger says Jamie’s prime time Radio 2 show on Tuesday evenings is a good starting point for those who want to ease into the world of jazz.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much choice on the radio for jazz fans,” he said, “and Jamie doesn’t play just jazz. But people could start to develop more of an interest in jazz by listening to Jazz Record Requests on Radio 3, and some other jazz programmes on the BBC.”

Or they could go along to a Huddersfield Jazz gig.

The first, featuring bebop trumpeter Bruce Adams, is on Saturday, September 12, at 8pm.

Tickets, which include a pie and pea supper (with veggie option) are £14 from The Keys (www.keysrestaurant.com or 01484 516677).