UK’s Leading Jazz Radio Star Brings Contemporary Spin to The Jazz Centre (UK)
Hot on the tails of Jamie Cullum’s recent appointment as Patron, The Jazz Centre (UK), the UK’s only cultural centre for jazz music and a volunteer-led national charity that works preserves, promotes and celebrates jazz in all its forms, is pleased to announce that Chris Philips, the award-winning radio presenter, has also joined the charity as Patron.
An award-winning radio presenter, Philips is currently heard on Jazz FM focussing on new jazz and was the station’s Head of Music, before taking up the role of Head Of Content at jazzed, the world’s first interactive listen, watch and read app dedicated to jazz and related music.
Chris was an original DJ on K-Jazz, the UK’s first dedicated jazz radio station. Along with illustrious luminaries as Gilles Peterson and Jez Nelson, Later, Chris co-founded Black music station Starpoint and co-presented the acclaimed late-night show Somethin’ Else with Jez Nelson where they took the show to Kiss 100FM, simultaneously co-founding the independent production company of the same name.
On his appointment, Chris said:
“Post-covid sees the beginning of a new era in The Jazz Centre (UK)’s growth since its formation in 2016. And the team there are totally committed to ensuring that today’s emerging jazz musicians become the heritage of jazz in the future. The Centre’s recent investment in new technology will help them access much wider more diverse audience and I’m really proud to be supporting the invaluable efforts that all the volunteers at The Centre are making to promote, preserve and celebrate jazz in all its forms!”
Alongside Philips’ expertise in contemporary jazz, he is passionate about the shared belief that jazz is probably the most diverse and inclusive musical genres there is. Chris continues:
“The image of 21st Century British jazz urgently needs to shift from its long-standing, past perceptions and I’m really keen to work with Mark, my fellow Patrons and his Trustees and volunteers to help The Jazz Centre (UK)’s valuable work truly represent today’s society and all the wide range of people involved in and around this amazing music.”
Mark Kass, CEO & Trustee of The Jazz Centre (UK) added:
“Chris’s appointment as Patron reflects our total commitment to all forms of jazz and truly ensuring we promote what’s going on in the jazz scene today as well as telling the phenomenal history of jazz over the past 100 years. Chris joins our growing “Who’s Who” of jazz patrons - including recently appointed Jamie Cullum - and we look forward to working with him to help spread the word of our exciting work across new audiences ultimately attracting new volunteers and visitors from across all aspects of the UK’s diverse communities!”
Based in The Beecroft Arts & Cultural Centre, Southend-on-Sea in Essex, The Jazz Centre (UK) partners with local, regional and national organisations through its jazz museum, multi-media research & education hub and aims to become the “go-to” resource for jazz music, dance, fashion, art and literature across the UK.
The Charity’s extended range of Patrons, its recently re-vamped performance venue now equipped with professional standard live streaming equipment and its exciting new website will encourage yet more people to explore, understand, enjoy and share in this great music.
See the full list of The Jazz Centre UK's Patrons and Supporters here: https://www.thejazzcentreuk.co.uk/patrons-and-supporters