New jazz website links Middlesbrough with Covent Garden

By

Jazz lovers throughout the UK will soon be able to access a wealth of information about jazz bands, concerts and festivals with the launch of the new Jazz Services website, created in partnership with the University of Teesside.

www.jazzservices.org.uk is a unique website which details:

• upcoming gigs
• links to various jazz bands’ websites
• details of promoters
• music teachers
• festivals

Run by London-based Jazz Services, the site is aimed at getting more people in the UK to enjoy jazz.

Post-graduate marketing students from Teesside Business School at the University of Teesside carried out an extensive research and marketing project led by marketing lecturer and jazz musician Noel Dennis. The project suggested new methods of marketing jazz to music lovers and how Jazz Services could improve its own communications with the UK’s jazz enthusiasts.

The Jazz Services website will be launched with a simultaneous concert at the University of Teesside and Covent Garden in London on Thursday 14 September, from 12pm – 2.30pm. The Middlesbrough event features music from a variety of acts including the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra, the Durham Youth Big Band and a special appearance by Steve Waterman, one of the UK’s most renowned trumpeters. The launch will culminate in the simultaneous performance of piece of music by the Noel Dennis Quartet in Teesside and Liane Carroll in London.

Noel, 28, from Middlesbrough, who plays trumpet in the band which also includes his father Kel (drums) and younger brother Adam (keyboards), said: “Jazz music marketing can be a very daunting subject to tackle but the students rose to the task of delivering innovative and professional theories for Jazz Services. The students have excelled themselves and absorbed all of the practical elements conjured up during the exercise. It’s proved a worthwhile process and underlines the true professionalism of the students and if they represent the marketing fraternity of the future, then the world of marketing is in very safe hands.

“As a life long jazz addict I’m thrilled that we have had the chance to take part in a project aimed at introducing jazz to a wider audience. I’m really looking forward to performing at the Middlesbrough launch event, especially as we’ll be playing in tandem with musicians celebrating the launch in London.”

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Members of the media are welcome to attend the launch event on Thursday 14 September at 12pm – 2.30pm, at the University of Teesside’s Main Hall in the Brittan Building, Middlesbrough. The performers and speakers will be available for interview/photographs at 11.30am prior to the event start.

---