The jazz scene in Northern Ireland is tiny. Its media profile is now getting worse given that the region's most listened to radio station BBC Radio Ulster has taken the regrettable decision rather than invest in its coverage to axe its long running weekly Jazz World programme presented by trumpeter and bandleader Linley Hamilton. Asked why cancel the show no reasons are given. Asked are there plans to end the Walter Love programme Jazz Club? The news is, no. But nothing will replace Jazz World.

As to the commitments that Radio Ulster professes towards the local jazz scene the response of a BBC NI spokesperson to these is included in this statement: “Linley has been great to work with over the past 16 years and very supportive of rising, young musical talent as part of the mentoring team for the Northern Ireland Young Musicians’ Platform Awards. We hope to work with him again in the future. We are continuing with Jazz Club, our dedicated jazz programme on Sunday nights presented by Walter Love, with opportunities for further jazz programmes through in our specialist music slot on Sundays.”

“We will ensure a broad range of music genres, including jazz, are played on programmes across the schedule and we continue to curate our Where Music Matters playlist, which showcases homegrown artists.”

So only general vague comments and no commitment to extend Jazz Club although it isn't being cancelled and so the axing isn't a complete wipe-out. The industry legend Love's programme is even more niche than the cancelled show given it leans heavily more to heritage jazz rarely covering modern or contemporary jazz with a preference for trad jazz including a lot of Dixie. So a blow for the contemporary and logically new and “young” scene given that the coverage of all these areas is now massively shrunk.

The spokesperson also indicated that “jazz will also form part of our enhanced commitment to live music performance with homegrown and international acts being supported.”

Jazz World logo, above. Image: BBC