I have just had the pleasure of attending the European Jazz Network's conference, where I spoke on a panel with Paul Augustin (Penang Jazz Festival), Agus Setiawan (Warta Jazz in Indonesa) hosted by Ian Patterson (All About Jazz), who was the keynote speaker with a vast knowledge of Asian music.
For the first time in the EJN history, this annual meeting has grown into a larger "European Jazz Conference" open also to non-member professionals, artistic directors and promoters from all over Europe, aiming at becoming the main European conference dedicated to presenters from jazz organisations large and small. More than 300 people attended the event, with some 150 representatives from member organizations, the other European Jazz Conference participants and performing musicians. It can therefore be considered the biggest EJN Europe Jazz Network event ever.
It was organised in collaboration with the Finnish Jazz Federation and included the Jazz Finland Festival.
This was an important edition first and foremost because the EJN celebrated the successful outcome of their application for network funding to the EACEA Creative Europe programme.
EJN was one of only 22 successful bids for network funding out of 58 applications
The 2014 EJN European Jazz Conference combined the strength of the traditions of the annual gathering together with many new additions. This is only the starting point of a 3-year period of commitment and growth.
Next year’s European Jazz Conference will take place in Budapest from 24 to 27 September 2015.
For more information http://www.europejazz.net/
