“Over the last nine years, Jazz Steps and Inspire have jointly staged more than 200 gigs in libraries. Over this time, we have reached out to an audience of several thousand music lovers.”
The story of Jazz Steps Live at the Libraries is one of creativity, inspiration and the power of collaboration. It brings together two very different organisations with a shared passion to inspire local people with music and creativity in local venues: Jazz Steps and Inspire.
Jazz Steps is the brand name used by Jazzhouse (Nottinghamshire) Ltd - a not-for-profit company, run entirely by a team of dedicated and talented volunteers. The collaboration with Inspire began with a chance meeting that led to the idea of holding a jazz gig in a local library. It was an exciting experiment and a step into the unknown, and one that neither organisation could have envisaged would be the start of the successful touring programme that would continue to flourish almost a decade later.
Jazz Steps Live at the Libraries has seen hundreds of musicians performing exciting and unique gigs in libraries, and thousands of local people enjoying the highest quality music in a venue that feels like home.
Its story has been told in full for the first time in a chapter of The Jazz Steps Story - a book that celebrates 25 years of this inspiring organisation.
You can read the Jazz Steps Live at the Libraries chapter from The Jazz Steps Story above. Copies of the book are also available to borrow in selected libraries*, and can be purchased directly from the Jazz Steps website.
*The book is available at Worksop, West Bridgford, Southwell, Beeston, Mansfield and Arnold Libraries
Jazz: the music of surprise! Jazz embodies the creativity of its composers and performers. Audiences are entertained, refreshed, stimulated, educated and more besides – often all together! For this ‘magic’ to happen, you need a combination of musicians and audiences, venues and promoters.
Jazzhouse (Nottinghamshire) have staged contemporary live jazz across the city and county under the Jazz Steps brand for over 20 years.
How has this come about? Who is involved? What happens behind the scenes? This book tells the story of Jazz Steps. It celebrates a continuing commitment to this thrilling and diverse music.
“ I've been lucky enough . . .to take poetry and Jazz to Worksop, Southwell and West Bridgford libraries on several occasions, reading each time to packed audiences, and never happier than when I could stand back from the mic and listen to the excellent jazz being played by the musicians with whom I was fortunate to be sharing the stage." John Harvey
