Yamaha Music UK sponsors Jazz FM's 'Sunday Jazz Jam'

Yamaha Music UK have extended their support for the UK jazz scene with the announcement of a twelve-month broadcast partnership with Jazz FM. Yamaha will be providing sponsorship, promotional links and artists for the 'Sunday Jazz Jam', a weekly programme hosted by award-winning broadcaster Helen Mayhew, who is making a return to Jazz FM. The programme will run under Yamaha's new Bringing Your Music To Life theme and cover up-coming gigs, festivals and new releases. Yamaha and Jazz FM also confirm a commitment to interviews with established and homegrown talent together with visiting international artists.

This latest move appears to build on Yamaha's expanding programme of support for the UK jazz scene which now encompasses a wide range of activities, including venue partnerships, instrumental support, educational workshops with international artists and a scholarship scheme in partnership with PPL, Jazzwise and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group. The company has also just released an interim report following their Jazz Experience programme, which reveals new educational opportunities for jazz amongst secondary school pupils. Finest Yamaha's Mike Ketley commented: "We are delighted to announce this creative partnership. The audience embracing Jazz FM is building rapidly and we are proud to be one of the station's founding promotional partners. We are involved with a wide range of jazz activities and artists. We will be ensuring we use these links to make sure Helen's show becomes a not-to-be-missed programme for jazz listeners and players alike." Richard Wheatley, Chairman of Jazz FM, was similarly upbeat: "Yamaha make the finest musical instruments in     the world and we are delighted that they have decided to sponsor Helen Mayhew's new show".