Last week's jazz festival column seems to have stirred some interest.

Firstly, many thanks to the people who emailed with intelligent well-reasoned opinions. Thanks to the rest of you too – it's good to see that certain Anglo Saxon terms for the anatomy are still in broad use.

Things are moving on, however, and the jazz society has begun advertising for a new festival director. Can a smooth transition be properly managed?

What I fervently hope is that Arne Herrmann and Liam Ryan can leave their posts not just without misguided recrimination but with the respect and gratitude they are due for the long, arduous work they've done over the past few years.

A double-edged sword comes with the directorship of an event for which many people – musicians and public alike – feel ownership. Comments on newspaper websites and suchlike at points during and after this year's festival, to my mind, showed an unacceptable level of vitriol, usually coupled with ignorance. And everyone had a barrel to push.

Opinions expressed

Some criticised the programme, some criticised the prices, some criticised the layout, everyone criticised the council - there was something for anyone with a gripe.

I try not to complain too much. I figure the festival directors should do whatever they want (within their remit). If Liam, as artistic director, had decided to have an entire festival of Cuban trumpeters then that's his call. I wouldn't agree, but I'd defend his right to do so, because basically that's what I want a director to do, to shape the face of the festival, to bring their ideas and style to the table. And each year the directors ultimately have to just roll the dice and trust their instincts and judgement.

Not easy
Anyway, my point is that running this festival is a tough gig. And, in all reality, this year's event wasn't essentially different from the brilliant first year under Liam and Arne, after which everyone wanted to give them the keys to the city. How easy it is to forget. In fact it was only the large surplus from the success of their first two festivals that enabled the society to completely pay its bills after last year's unavoidably rain-drenched event. The current problem largely stems from one big iffy - in retrospect - call this year.

I don't have a problem with the choice of acts for the Big Birthday Bash, and if the directors were wanting to skew the festival in a more populist direction by booking Earth Wind and Fire, then so be it. (No, I don't like them – but it's not about me.) I also still believe the concert could have been sold and been a success. But, that's the way it goes. You roll the dice…

And, just as you take the kudos in good years, you have to accept responsibility. Because, bottom line, you booked a make-or-break show and failed (for whatever reason) to get people to go. Sometimes you roll snake eyes.

But that should be as far as it goes. Arne and Liam have brought enormous pride and pleasure to this town, and a bucketload of great music, while lifting the festival to a new standing in national, and even international terms. Liam was also the driving force behind essential restructuring of the Jazz Society so that it could meet the professional demands of a festival this size. These are considerable achievements, deserving praise and recognition.

It is also important that their skills not be discarded.

Experience

Because – as should be obvious to anyone with half a brain – Arne and Liam are the two people who know most in the world about putting on this festival. In fact it is possible they are the only people who fully understand how the current festival works, because they designed it. For the jazz society to lose that knowledge and experience going forward would be a severe blow. One can only hope that those overseeing change show more diplomatic powers than have sometimes been exhibited at such moments in the society's history.

My understanding is that Arne's job is being advertised and that Liam's artistic director role will be replaced by some sort of local committee. Whether there are those here with the requisite knowledge, taste and judgement still remains to be seen. They're big shoes to fill – keep your fingers crossed.
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