[1][2][3] The Manchester Jazz Festival was created in 1996 as a one-day showcase and has grown into a 9-day event, with 60 gigs and 300 musicians planned for July 2009.
It also regularly receive financial support from the PRS Foundation for New Music to foster new talents and develop new works.
The festival's international programme is supported by the Instituto Cervantes Manchester and the Italian Consulate.
From 2000, Manchester Jazz Festival has been commissioning North West artists to help them develop projects.
Previously commissioned artists include Richard Iles, Jon Thorne (with Danny Thompson), Stuart McCallum (with John Surman),[4] Mike Walker (with Adam Nussbaum).