KELVIN HOPKINS MP WELCOMES MORE MONEY FOR JAZZ

Last week's Arts Council's funding announcement included a substantial increase in funding for Jazz, with money being allocated to the Jazz Development Trust whose Chairman is the famous jazz musician John Dankworth. Kelvin Hopkins MP is Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and last year raised a debate in the House of Commons urging more financial support for jazz by Government.

Speaking after the Art Council's announcement, Kelvin Hopkins said: “I am delighted at the increase in spending on jazz and hope that lobbying by the All Party Group and my own debate with Culture Minister, Chris Smith MP, last year helped to jog the elbow of the Government to put its hand a little more deeply into its pocket for the jazz cause. Jazz is a wonderful music appreciated by hundreds of thousands of people in Britain, and yet is a poor relation in the arts world. Opera, for example, receives 50 times the subsidy of jazz with about the same number of enthusiasts. I love opera too, but jazz should have a fair crack of the whip, and last week's announcement was a definite step in the right direction.”

Note to Editors: Kelvin Hopkins was a part-time jazz musician in his youth, playing tenor saxophone and clarinet. He ended his playing days with the Nottingham Big Band.