Three memorable Jazzy experiences from Geoffrey Jackson - Entrepreneur Generations

2017 created some challenging, creative & memorable experiences for Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues. Three experiences stand out as ones that confirmed priorities, and ones that could be influential in 2018.

RVJ&B’s 1st 2017 memorable experience was the final session of Preston Jam festival on 1st April, completed with stirring performances from all-women septet, Nérija, and Soweto Kinch Trio. Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues was commissioned by UCLan - (the University of Central Lancashire) - to curate the university’s first jazz festival whilst agreeing to become RVJ&B’s first major festival sponsor. Having UCLan’s logo on the front page of RVJ&B’s 2017 festival brochure increases our festival’s credibility. The 2018 UCLan festival, renamed Preston Jazz & Improvisation Festival takes place 7/9th June. UCLan is confirmed as RVJ&B annual festival sponsor.

UCLan’s support, along with year two Arts Council England G4A funding for our May Day Bank Holiday Festival 2017, helped deliver RVJ&B’s 2nd most memorable experience, which was the appointment of young band Jam Experiment as our festival’s Band-in-Residence. Has any other festival been able to commit to a young Band-in-Residence? Jam Experiment excelled in their four day festival commitment with a fine performance on stage, along with Alexandra Ridout Quintet, and the Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra on Festival Saturday afternoon, 29th April - a memorable experience that hosted two BBC Youth Jazz award winners - Alex Bone and Alexandra Ridout, a future Rising Star award winner in 2017 British Jazz Awards - Rory Ingham, whilst enabling RVJ&B to more than meet its commitment to prioritising music by young jazzers.

Completing the set of three memorable experiences was the first of RVJ&B’s first regular Jazz Jams in February 2017 in the Bowland Beerhall at Holmes Mill, Clitheroe, an amazing new venue, and £10m redevelopment enterprise that claims the longest bar in the UK serving its own real ales, serves good food, and hosts RVJ&B’s monthly Jazz Jam on the 3rd Thursday monthly. On the back of the Jazz Jam, Holmes Mill became a major business sector sponsor of our May Day Festival, supporting the costs of two outdoor stages on Festival Sunday & Monday, and the monthly Jazz Jam session continues into 2018 with 15/20 local and regional, mainly amateur musicians turning out, supported by a pro trio. And Homes Mill festival sponsorship continues into 2018!