Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

The jazz world was in shock in April with the announcement that the IAJE was declaring itself bankrupt. The International Association for Jazz Education was the world’s largest jazz organisation uniting thousands of educators, musicians, students, promoters, journalists and labels at their annual conferences. The 2009 event, which was to have taken place in Seattle, has now been cancelled and the IAJE has ceased to operate.

While it is too early to report on the causes of this financial insolvency, online forums and blogs have been rife with speculation and recriminations. Ironically perhaps, the January 2008 conference in Toronto was a great success for the UK contingent who participated in a major showcase of British jazz featuring among others Martin Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Empirical.

IAJE Canada has stated that it intends to continue to function independently, and many local US chapters are also taking stock to see whether they can survive financially without the support of the central body. In Europe, the impact will be felt less strongly than in North America, where the membership ran into many thousands. However, in recent years, much work had been done by the IAJE’s European Representative, Dr Ian Darrington MBE, to expand IAJE representation in Europe. He is understandably in reflective mood: 'The loss of IAJE will leave a void in the music education world that will be impossible to fill. We are unlikely to ever see the likes of IAJE again. More than anything IAJE united the whole of the jazz education world and provided a 'priceless' networking opportunity. For me, in my professional world, it had become a huge part of my life and had been so for over 20 years. I am going to miss it terribly. However one thing is for sure – the entire jazz industry is a far richer place as a result of the work of IAJE".

The outgoing President, Chuck Owen, in his official announcement regretted the current circumstances, but urged that the jazz world look forwards: “Much has been achieved that can never be taken away! Therefore, the vision, effort, and shared passion that have fueled the growth of IAJE and its programs should not be forgotten or considered in vain. Rather, the spirit that is IAJE must be rekindled into a new vision for the future.”