The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) undertakes many activities to support the growth and development of the jazz industry in the UK. The group has over 100 members from all political parties and their aim is ‘to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament’.

In May, the group launched an important review of jazz in England, led by Chris Hodgkins and an expert advisory panel, chaired by the inspirational Dr Kathy Dyson. We caught up with both Chris and Dr Kathy to explore the importance of this review. We asked Chris why this survey is important to him, not just as APPJAG’s Secretary but also as a musician

‘APPJAG has been lobbying for a better deal for musicians and promoters who have fallen through the cracks in the Covid crisis and a fairer deal for musicians from the streaming platforms. A key role of APPJAG is to increase the knowledge and understanding for Parliamentarians and to do this we need facts and figures that is one reason for the review. Secondly, the last review of jazz was undertaken by the Arts Council in 1996. with Covid, Brexit, 10 years of constant belt tightening we need to understand how the infrastructure for jazz is faring, how musicians are coping, how promoters are dealing with the current situation. From this analysis, we can look at where are now and plan where we want to get to. To get there we need a succinct action plan that the jazz constituency can debate and own. The information and analysis will be of benefit to everybody, Parliamentarians, Government departments, funding bodies, trade organisations, the jazz constituency, and the public at large. For myself as a musician, I like to know how things tick in terms of audiences, demographics, economics, supply and demand. Where musicians are heading in terms of what Paul Berliner calls the "musician's odyssey" - an odyssey that encompasses economic pressures, professional opportunities, artistic pathways, practice, recording and refining their abilities’

The review is undertaken by Chris and a panel, chaired by Dr Kathy Dyson who among many incredible achievements was the first female Executive Committee Chair for the Musicians Union. We asked Chris how Kathy’s work and experience supports the review and the work that APPJAG is trying to achieve.

"Kathy - I should say Dr Kathy Dyson - is a professional musician, a proven jazz educator, a broadcaster and was the chair of the Musician's Union for a number of years, and is the ideal person to chair the Review of Jazz in England"

Dr Kathy Dyson explains that "The pandemic is far from over; indeed, the Delta variant is growing in many parts of the country. Many venues are still closed, and some are operating social distancing policies and hence fewer audience members. Jazz musicians are making their first tentative steps to playing live gigs again many of which are outside for obvious reasons. So we are far from 'returning to normal’ if indeed that is possible, and the survey is intended to find out in detail and depth just where musicians and all those in the jazz community find themselves at this juncture and how we might be able to help".

It is always a challenge to encourage people to complete surveys and so we asked Chris what he would say to anyone who has had enough of surveys and perhaps does not understand their value:

‘First off, people can start and return to the form, they do not have to do it all in one go. It is another questionnaire to fill in and is probably a pain to do but the benefits to the jazz community are immeasurable. The information will help everybody from the jazz constituency to funding bodies and sponsors who can make better informed decisions. APPJAG can go into bat for jazz as they are armed with the facts and are well briefed.’

We are very happy to support and share this review and if you would also like to support, here is the link for further information and the surveys themselves:

Review of Jazz in England