JAZZ musicians and their impact on fans will be remembered through a new project thanks to a huge cash grant.

The National Jazz Archive based in Trapps Hill, Loughton, has been awarded £83,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Intergenerational Jazz Reminiscence Project, which will begin in January 2016.

Designed to explore how different generations have promoted, performed, supported, and documented our jazz heritage, the latest work by the archive will begin next year.

The inclusive project will feature interviews with Age UK Activity Centres with the generations who grew up with jazz.

Recorded music will be a part of the workshops, with live music by young musicians at some of them.

Interviews and memories collected by the project will be made available on the Archive’s website and will contribute to an exhibition celebrating the people and places that have shaped jazz music across the UK.

The National Jazz Archive will be leading the project, and will work in partnership with other specialist organisations to deliver it: Age UK, Black Cultural Archives, Chelmsford Museums Service, Essex University, Loughton Youth Project, the Open University, and local jazz clubs.

Commenting on the award, Paul Kaufman, chair of trustees of the National Jazz Archive, said: “This is a great result for a magnificent team effort. The HLF award is a tremendous endorsement of the National Jazz Archive.”

The founder and lifelong patron of the Archive, jazz trumpeter, author and broadcaster Digby Fairweather, said: “I’m delighted that the Archive is continuing to extend its work through this exciting project, which will record and capture so many personal recollections and stories.

"It’s very pleasing that so many levels of expertise and skills will be involved, with participants from young to old.”