Review of Jazz in England: an Honest Portrait and an Actionable Roadmap – A Green Paper
Report plots ways for jazz to keep swinging
A cross-party Parliamentary focus group has published a review of jazz in England that sets out the way ahead for the music to flourish nationally over the next ten years.
The All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), which sponsors the prestigious annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards, commissioned the report to shed light on the opportunities and challenges faced by one of the most vibrant components of the English arts scene.
Compiled by musician, radio presenter and former arts administrator Chris Hodgkins and musician and journalist Howard Lawes, the report draws on observations and input from some of the most experienced figures in jazz across England and provides an honest portrait of the jazz ecosystem, highlighting both areas of growth and the need for structural support.
“In recent years, the English jazz scene has grown more dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing a wide range of influences that resonate across generations and backgrounds,” says APPJG chair, Chi Onwurah MP. “But while the spirit of jazz remains vibrant, our musicians, promoters, educators, and venues face unique pressures that have been intensified by economic and cultural shifts, not least the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The report recommends measures including strengthening the music’s support infrastructure and easing the effects of red tape to open up touring possibilities for musicians, both those seeking to work abroad and those from outside the country looking to play to local audiences.
“Like many creative industries, jazz faces considerable challenges including the effects of Brexit and the rapid evolution of technology,” says Chi Onwurah. “This review offers timely insights into these changes, mapping the landscape of jazz from the perspectives of those who live, perform, and support the music. The Review of Jazz in England is a consultative green paper and the APPJG, whilst happy to receive thoughts and ideas, is very keen to see action. With this in mind, we urge the Government to act on the findings within and to engage with the sector to better understand the challenges and opportunities our sector faces”
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the Department of Culture, Media and Science Select Committee added: “I remain committed to advocating for policies that sustain and enhance the UK’s cultural sector. Jazz is a reflection of our society – diverse, inventive, and resilient. Its future depends on bold and collaborative action, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure its prosperity for generations to come.”
The Review of Jazz in England is available at Review of Jazz in England March 2025
Pleae note all the partners in action plan operate in a strictly voluntary capacity.
For further information, contact: Chris Hodgkins at admin@appjag.org
23rd March 2025
Notes to editors
All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 73 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. 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. The Group’s officers as at the Annual General Meeting on 20th November 2025 are the Chair, Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Jo White MP and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, additional officers are Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Sarah Champion MP and Lord Spellar.
The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins. The Secretary operates on a strictly voluntary pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretariate. The contact address is: admin@appjag.org
For further details of the Group including recent minutes and please see: https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/
Please note this is not an official website [or feed] of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these webpages are those of the group.
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group Review Of Jazz In England
The Review of Jazz in England deadline has been extended to midnight on Monday 20th September 2021. This is the final extension for completion of questionnaires and submissions.
However we will keep the questionnaires open for a couple of weeks after the 20th for late completions.
This is your chance to have your say. It would be great if you could complete a questionnaire for your activity; promoter, festival, venue, jazz club, musician, jazz organisation, technical person, jazz educator, jazz course, jazz teacher, youth jazz orchestra or attender at gigs. In the People and Organisations questionnaire you can attach a pdf flagging up recent successes and areas of concern that you would like to see addressed or ideas you have that would help jazz thrive.
Details of the review are below:
Following an enforced delay due to the global pandemic and a year of unprecedented change, challenges, and specific hardships for working musicians, the All Party Jazz Group (APPJG) commissioned a Review of Jazz in England. The Review is being undertaken by APPJG’s Secretary, Chris Hodgkins, and an expert advisory panel, chaired by musician and jazz educator Dr Kathy Dyson.
Questionnaires
If you are a jazz musician, a professional working in the jazz industry, jazz organisation, Arts Council England Jazz National Portfolio Organisation, promoter, festival, technical person or a jazz fan, the Review wants to hear from you.
Below are four questionnaires dealing with the crucial areas of gig, festivals, audiences and musicians. The fifth questionnaire is for people and organisations who want to address the terms of reference or a particular area; you are able to attach a document if it is easier. Please select the appropriate questionnaire for you and click on the link below to complete and return it to us, so your views form part of the Review.
Please note the closing date for the questionnaires is midnight, Monday 20th September 2021
Review of Jazz in England – National Jazz Promoter and Venue Research Questionnaire
Review of Jazz In England Audience Questionnaire
Review of Jazz in England Jazz Festivals
Review of Jazz In England Musicians’ Questionnaire
Review of Jazz in England People and Organisations Questionnaire
A quick and easy way to complete the People and Organisations questionnaire is to address the terms of reference you are involved with – may be one, three or all of them and save it as a PDF and then attach it to the questionnaire at Question 19 after you have answered the demographic questions.
The Review’s Terms of Reference
Terms of reference for the Review of Jazz in England
Review’s Advisory Panel
Advisory Panel Review of Jazz in England 14th March 2021
“Cold Comfort and Home Truths” an introduction to the issues, background data and information the Review will be considering.
Cold Comfort and Home Truths Introduction and Summary
Foreword and summary by John Fordham
Link to full text of “Cold Comfort and Home Truths – informing the review of jazz in England
Cold Comfort and Home Truths – informing the review of jazz in England
Foreword and summary by John Fordham
The Objectives of the Review
Chris Hodgkins summarises the review’s objectives:
‘This review concerns the operation, management and business of jazz, and its purposes are twofold:
One, to help the jazz constituency in England to understand and use its resources in the most efficient and effective ways – and two, to make the case for improving the support, sustainability and promotion of jazz in England.
The review will be undertaken in two phases. The first, entitled “Where are we now?”, examines the present state of jazz in England, drawing on revealing data from five key surveys aimed at the jazz constituency. The second asks the question: “Where do we want to be?”, and develops a succinct action plan for jazz in England that will go out for consultation to all interested parties, and the jazz constituency at large.’
John Spellar MP and Lord Mann (Co-Chairs of APPJG), and Alison Thewless MP and Chi Onwurah MP (Co-Vice Chairs of APPJG), detail some of the review’s objectives:
“It has been a tough year for jazz with many musicians and promoters falling through the cracks in terms of funding. APPJG continues to put the case to the Department for Culture, Digital, Media and Sport to rectify this egregious state of affairs. Underpinning the review is the fact that jazz in England (and indeed across the UK) is “rich beyond the dreams of avarice” in terms of human resources: jazz musicians, composers, volunteer promoters, audiences, commercial promoters, educators, youth orchestras, jazz festivals, Arts Council England funded jazz National Portfolio Organisations, a growing service economy and jazz archives. But there are some vital issues that need addressing urgently; increased investment, frictionless touring in the EU, financial support for musicians and promoters who fell through the cracks in 2020/21 and a fair deal for musicians getting their music streamed. The objective of the Review of Jazz in England is to inform Government, funding bodies, potential sponsors, Parliament and to assist the jazz constituency in shaping an action plan for jazz in England.”
And Dr Kathy Dyson, Chair of the Advisory Panel of the Review of Jazz in England, comments:
“As a jazz musician and educator I am well aware of how hard a year it has been for jazz musicians, promoters, studios, technical staff, media and the jazz constituency at large. Realistically, recovery will be slow on the domestic scene and our touring capabilities will be hampered both by Brexit and the myriad quarantine and travel issues globally. This current situation is exacerbated by ten years of funding cuts which have dramatically affected the arts and now the Government is planning to impose a disastrous 50% funding cut to arts subjects including music at Higher Education level in England. The pandemic has thrown petrol on flames and highlighted issues of insecurity, low wages and exploitation of musicians by the music streaming companies. This Review of Jazz in England is a genuine and concerted attempt by people who care deeply about the music, musicians and all involved in promoting it, to find out how the jazz community has fared during the pandemic, what the main issues are that we face now; how these can best be addressed during the post Covid period with the aim of an action plan for the jazz community in England.”
All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 73 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. 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. The Group’s officers as at the AGM on the 22nd October 2025 are the Chair, Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Jo White MP and Lord Crathorne.
The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Simon Jennings, Will Riley-Smith of NorthPoint Strategy and Andrew Lansley, all of whom act in a strictly voluntary and pro bonao capacity. The Secretary operates on a strictly voluntary and pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretariate. The contact address is: admin@appjag.org
For further details of the Group including recent minutes and please see: https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/
Please note this is not an official website [or feed] of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these webpages are those of the group.
All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group 