NEWS: National Jazz Archive spreads to Birmingham

By ljazzn on 5 December 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

Australian Jazz Quarterly from May 1947, one of the items in the collection.

Birmingham City University now hosts a satellite archive of the National Jazz Archive (NJA). Peter Bacon reports:

Exciting news for jazz researchers, especially those in the English Midlands, is that the British Institute of Jazz Studies collection has recently arrived at Birmingham City University as a satellite of the National Jazz Archive.

The press release explains:

“This collection includes an extensive number of foreign language magazines and books. This will be complemented in the following years by additional UK focused materials and jazz ephemera.”

Professor Nick Gebhardt, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) is quoted in the release:

“The partnership between Birmingham City University and the National Jazz Archive is an important new initiative that seeks to stimulate debate about the history and significance of jazz in the UK and beyond. Through exhibitions, performances, talks and workshops, our aim is to create a vibrant, living archive known for innovative research and outreach programmes that are uniquely anchored in the wider community.”

The press release continues:

“The Birmingham City University satellite collection is housed in the Arts, Design & Media archives at Parkside Building. This collection is available to all through appointment with the Keeper of the Archives, Dr Pedro Cravinho.

“This year represents a significant milestone for the National Jazz Archive as it celebrates thirty years of activity. The NJA holds the UK’s finest collection of written, printed and visual material on jazz, blues and related music, from the 1920s to the present day. Since the NJA was established in 1988, its vision has been to ensure that the rich cultural heritage of jazz is safeguarded for the future generations.

Jazz, the fourth issue of the Belgian publication from 1945, is in the collection.

“This year also represents the beginning of a partnership between Birmingham City University and the NJA towards the establishment of an NJA’s satellite-based at the University’s Arts, Design and Media Archives located in its Parkside Building, where the first archival materials have already arrived.

“The archive includes a diversity of foreign-language jazz and blues-related magazines from across the world, to include:

“Jazz Podium (Germany), Musica Jazz (Italy), Jazz Bladet (Norway), Jazz Forum (Poland), Jazz ‘n’ More (Switzerland), Jazznytt (Sweden), Quartica Jazz (Spain), Hot Jazz Club (Argentina), Jazz Live (Austria), Jazz (Belgium), Jazz Bulletin (Czech Republic), Jazz Revy (Denmark), Rytmi (Finland), Jazz Nu (Netherlands), Melody Maker (UK), Australian Jazz Quarterly (Australia), Coda (Canada).”