The return of jazz: How and why young people are rediscovering the genre in the UK

There is a musical revival taking place in the UK. It’s not the latest pop sensation or electronic beats dominating the airwaves. It’s the smooth melodies, improvisational rhythms, and soulful harmonies of jazz that are captivating a new generation of listeners.

Once considered the domain of the older generation, jazz is experiencing a renaissance among young people across the UK. But what generates that initial spark of interest? What steers a young musician away from the same five open chords and motivates them to delve into the world of scales, triads and complex arpeggios? According to Dave Little, the conductor and curator of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, the answer is “you don't put anyone under pressure to do anything that they don't want to do.”

The Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra in action

Dave’s approach of “bringing them into the genre, but not through jazz” has made the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra one of the most prolific orchestras of its kind in the UK. Having toured internationally in the USA, Russia, Australia and throughout Europe, they’ve sold records in more than 25 countries. Along with extensive touring, the group has also worked alongside well-known jazz greats such as Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew and Phil Woods. With over a decade of experience in introducing jazz to a younger audience, Dave knows better than most what works.

“If you straight away put an arrangement of a Count Basie song or a Duke Ellington number, it's old music," he said. "That's old stuff you know. I mean, it's before my time even. It’s historic music, we need to remember that. So what you do is, you introduce them to the genre through stuff they're familiar with, arrangements of stuff they’re familiar with. And then you ease in the more learned and historic music and the jazz.”

Jazz is proving to be a powerful tool for education and outreach, with many organizations and institutions across the UK working to introduce young people to the genre through workshops, classes, and community programs. From inner-city youth orchestras like the WYJO to university jazz ensembles, there are countless opportunities for young musicians to explore jazz and develop their skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Unfortunately, the growing cost of programmes like these and the lack of funding is always a concern, as Dave explained: “There's no dedicated funding for Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. So we just find that from within our overall music service budget."

And with 30% of children in Wigan classified as living in poverty, there’s always the challenge of bringing in those from impoverished areas. Dave, however, remains confident.

“We're not going to deny any kid who's got the ability playing in this band, if they're up to the level,” he said.

“It goes without saying that if a young person comes wanting to be in this band, who's got the skills and the ability, but the parents are from a deprivation area, we will just find a way to make it not cost them anything.”

The UK has long been a hub for jazz aficionados but figures from Jazz FM show their average listeners are 35-64 males, with women making up 39% of the audience. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in demographics within the jazz community.

More and more young people are flocking to clubs and festivals, such as London’s Total Refreshment Centre, Jazz Re:freshed and the Love Supreme Festival, to experience the genre first-hand.

The Gaz Hughes Trio performing to a packed crowd at the Southport Jazz Festival

But despite this, jazz remains a relatively niche genre and musicians keen to get involved must overcome some barriers if they wish to thrive. Andrew Heap, a drummer from Wigan who started in jazz but moved into rock stated: “It’s not pop. It’s not as easily accessible in the mainstream so you’ve still got to seek it out.”

Finding fellow musicians who share an interest in jazz remains a challenge, but Andrew maintains that learning jazz early on is still beneficial to budding musicians. “It may seem very technical, but feel is key," he said. "Just get lost in it. You’ve not learned the ‘rules’ of other genres that could stifle progression as a jazz musician.”

Jazz guitarist and tutor Mike Ciaputa, who discovered the genre through Miles Davis’s classic ‘Kind of Blue’, admits that “younger students tend to see jazz as ‘old people music’ but can often pop up in popular culture in various unconnected ways like TikTok and memes.”

The Grand, venue to the Southport Jazz Festival

Social media has played a significant role in connecting young jazz enthusiasts across the globe and fostering a sense of community. Social media sites like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have become virtual gathering places where fans can share their favourite tracks, discover new artists, and engage in lively discussions on the genre. This sense of interconnectedness has helped to break down barriers and labels surrounding the genre, making it more inclusive and welcoming to newcomers.

As the popularity of jazz continues to grow among young people in the UK, the future of the genre looks brighter than ever, especially with educators like Little.

“It's really important to be able to pass all that on to this new generation because the concept of swing is an alien concept thing to these kids," he said.

"It's not something they’re hearing on the radio every day. They only hear it when we tell them how to play it here.”

With its timeless appeal, jazz has captured the hearts and minds of a new generation of listeners who are eager to explore its endless possibilities. Whether they’re listening to classic recordings, attending live performances, or picking up an instrument themselves, young jazz enthusiasts in the UK are proving that this quintessentially American art form has truly become a global phenomenon.

Watch our footage of the Southport Jazz festival here and listen to the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra https://www.instagram.com/p/C374jktPI6q/