Chris Hodgkins presents a programme Jazz Is…… on Pure Jazz Radio
Pure Jazz Radio, started on the 1st January 2009 with a few dozen listeners, emerged as the “Internet Jazz Radio Station of Record”. We not only play great jazz but are the home of some of best jazz presenters in the world. Pure Jazz Radio also promotes the jazz scene world wide and talks with some of the leading talent regarding their latest projects. If it is happening – and its – jazz – you’ll hear it here at Pure Jazz Radio
Rich Keith, General Manager, Pure Jazz Radio – New York
Jazz is a broad church that has developed an incredibly diverse range of musics with a global reach. When there is an altercation in the choir stalls about what jazz is, some one is reinventing jazz and building an extension to the church. The programme Jazz Is illustrates the rich history of jazz and the happening jazz of today.
Chris was raised in Cardiff. He co-founded the Welsh Jazz Festival and was instrumental in establishing the Welsh Jazz Society. As a professional trumpeter, Chris has toured the UK and Europe, appearing at the Sacramento Jazz Festival in the USA. The Chris Hodgkins Band made a name for itself supporting the likes of Buddy Tate, Humphrey Lyttelton, Kathy Stobart, Bud Freeman and Wild Bill Davison.
Chris Hodgkins retired after 29 years as the Director of Jazz Services, the national support charity for jazz music and musicians. During his time at the organisation, he was honoured for his Services to Jazz at the 2002 BBC Jazz Awards and in July 2013 at the British Jazz Awards. Chris was awarded the Services to Jazz Award at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in March 2015. Despite his successes championing British jazz he still found the time to play himself, and as a musician released several albums with his various groups, including 2009’s Boswell’s London Journal, which was reviewed as ‘CD of the Week’ in the Evening Standard. With his days of administration behind him, Chris has returned to the road, the radio and the recording studio.
In July 2017 Chris was appointed by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group to act as their Secretariat. Details can be found at: All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group Details of the recipients of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards supported by PizzaexpressLive can be found at: Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2018 and a video of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2017 at the PizzaExpress Live at Holborn hereand details of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019 here
Recent lobbying and position papers can be seen at: All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group
The 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, took place online on Tuesday 4th July 2023. Details of the recipients can be found here
Awards took place in 2021 and the 2022 Awards were celebrated at the Pizza Express on the 5th July 2022
Recently released two albums, Chris Hodgkins And His Band – Retrospection and Remembering John Evans. Chris worked with John Evans for over 30 years.
Also released is Lenore Raphael, Wayne Wilkinson and Chris Hodgkins at PizzaExpress Live, Dean Street, London, The album was launched, with special guest Alison Rayner, at the PizzaExpress, lunchtime on the 11th November as part of the London Jazz Festival 2017. Two new album releases are planned for Autumn 2021.
Chris has published on the Music Business Resource page a free download “Where do you want to be – a business planning manual for jazz music students and musicians.” Also on the Online Music Business Resource are three additions; the Guide To Marketing Your Band, Funding Tips, Guide To Getting Your Music On The Radio, which have been revised September 2017 and two recent publications theGuide To Music Organisations– Including Copyright, royalties and IRCSs and A Quick Guide to Contracts for Jazz Musicians all are available as free downloads on the Online Music Business Resource page.
A new publication We Love You Madly – A Concise Guide To Good Communications is available free here
Jazz Is..... on Pure Jazz Radio 