YEAR-END LISTS 2016 (4 of 4)

A jazz touring network for Scotland. – Rob Adams

I love the exciting and risk-taking young musicians coming up through the UK scenes right now so for 2017, I wish them the enthusiasm, strength and self-belief to see through their dreams.  – Alya Al-Sultani

In South Africa, the wish can only be that the mainstream media start covering jazz properly again, rather than displacing serious arts writing in favour of lifestyle and showbiz gossip. – Gwen Ansell

That jazz musicians raise their expectations and demand a fair reward for their labours and their artistry. – Peter Bacon

A wish for British, European and international jazz musicians to keep on working together. – Alison Bentley

Ah the impossible dream: That the major funding agency for London would make sufficient funds available to present a concert series by some of the many larger ensembles across a wide range of styles with a budget for real marketing and paid rehearsal time for all the brilliant players who are normally expected to turn up and play as if they are unpaid choral singers. – Brian Blain

Despite progress in recent years, the UK jazz scene still needs more cohesion so I’m hoping the jazz fairy will provide! – John Blandford

(A bit more) honest frankness, willingness to learn and truthfulness to the music – Henning Bolte

My hope is that our increasingly isolationist approach as a country doesn’t prevent our musicians getting their music abroad, establishing essential collaborations and welcoming foreign musicians here, too. – George Crowley

We won’t be bowed, we won’t be plucked, we won’t fret, suck it up or be blown out, we are the global international and have yo’ asses surrounded. – AJ Dehany

To stay joyfully open minded, the only thing that helps against the cultural illness. – Ralf Dombrowski

“A greater British presence in European festivals” Dan Nicholls, Lauren Kinsella. Suedtirol Jazz Festival 2015 Photo Credit Ralf Dombrowski All Rights Reserved

I would love to see a greater British presence in European Festivals. – Tony Dudley Evans

Having played a small part in finally getting Cambridge International Jazz Festival on the map I wish for continued success to secure its place as a ‘must go’ destination in 2017 – David Gower.

That British talent gets fully recognised – we have some remarkable and exciting musicians in our own back yard! – Patrick Hadfield

I would like London Jazz Festival to be smaller, more focused and more innovative. – Alan Hayward

We find a better way for deserving jazz artists to make a living from their exceptional talent, while their audiences continue to grow. – Martin Hummel

That there will be more venues of all sizes outside central London for live music, run by promoters with vision, funds and enthusiasm. – Mary James.

That Jacob Collier continue his extraordinary musical evolution, and in so doing helps draw a younger audience to jazz, as Jamie Cullum did – Peter Jones

Susana Santos Silva at Festival Desvio in Parede in Portugal. Photo credit: Henning Bolte

To hear the Portuguese trumpet player Susana Santos Silva play live in France (review). – Matthieu Jouan

A peaceful, grooving, off-kilter and happy Monk centenary. – Hans Koller

Venues get serious about limiting people filming concerts on their mobile phones and iPads, so the rest of us can enjoy the live music that’s right there in front of us – Rob Mallows

More melody – less noise – real music. – Keith McDowall

More space and encouragement for lesser mortals like me to bring out our instruments and get a chance to play alongside London’s wonderful professional musicians – Adam Glasser’s great Friday night South African Jazz Jams at The Vortex are leading the way, so who’s next? – Mark McKergow

That we can all concentrate much more on the music, rather than struggling to make it happen. – Steve Mead

Jamie Cullum and the Remi Harris Trio at the BBC Proms. Photo credit BBC/Mark Allan

Jamie Cullum’s BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall this year highlighted the sell-out, cross-genre reach that vibrant, collaborative jazz is capable of, given the right channels – so my wish is for still greater media promotion and recognition of UK jazz’s ever-widening scope, and of its world-class performers. – Adrian Pallant

For jazz musicians to spend as much time in schools as they do on stages and in studios. – Matt Pannell

That Alan Bates will allow access to the complete master tapes of Booker Little’s Out Front session with Eric Dolphy and Max Roach – every alternate take, every scrap of playing and conversation between takes – and so give this timeless masterpiece to the world in its fullest form. – Evan Parker

Another concert from saxophonist Emile Parisien in front of my eyes. – Bruno Pfeiffer

A considerably deepened appreciation of the jazz musician’s role and potential in wider society, beyond the jazz club – and some cross-generational music-making would be healthy. – Simon Purcell

Greater respect and coverage for grass roots UK-based Jazz from the media in general and the BBC in particular. – Steve Rubie

Michael Gibbs Photo credit: ARD / Lutz Voigtlaender

There are firm plans to celebrate Mike Gibbs 80th birthday, with a stellar line-up…but they are at Berklee in Boston. I hope there will also be the London celebration that he deserves – Sebastian Scotney

To catch Binker & Moses’s new album due out in 2017 live – Amy Sibley-Allen.

May the current crop of wonderful young London-based musicians make the international impact their talent deserves. – Adam Sieff

We can but hope for Arts Council England to adopt a strategy for jazz rather than an approach based on who puts in the best bids. – Peter Slavid

Wider appreciation of jazz as an inspiring model of spontaneous creative co-operation, in times when that seems in short supply. – Jon Turney

Tony Kinsey (second from left) with Ray Nance, Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes in 1959

That Tony Kinsey be recognised/honoured for his contribution to British jazz as drummer, bandleader and composer. Peter Vacher

I would like Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society to bring their era-defining multimedia extravaganza Real Enemies to Europe. – John L. Walters

In a time when live venues are under pressure (with 40% closing in London alone since 2008), let’s hope that there are enough chances to hear, and let develop, a vibrant scene that exists. – Oliver Weindling

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz7HOPRck50]

Probably impossible, but somehow bringing Cecil Taylor over here, whetted by reports of his unique, week-long season at the Whitney Museum in New York in April 2016 where he collaborated with many other artists, including Tony Oxley on the opening night. – Geoff Winston