Spring into Summer with Jazz FM

Jazz FM have this week announced their spring/summer schedule of special programmes, series and documentaries along with summer festival outside broadcasts…

As well as returning series of listener favourites, there are new presenters joining the station to help tell the continued story of the broad range of jazz, soul and blues.

Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts:

“As everyone knows, the world’s greatest jazz, soul and blues is at the centre of everything we do.  It’s great to be able to tell new stories around untapped genres for the radio station like Gospel with Kurk and YolanDa alongside the important story behind the taken-for-granted keyboard with Niel is incredibly exciting. 

Welcoming back the likes of Binker and Ben show that Jazz FM is the place for amazing people to talk and play music, and then to be able to be at the centre of so many amazing jazz festivals shows that the genre is alive and well and thriving like never before. Jazz FM is the place to be this summer”  

In the run up to Easter, “Jazz FM Loves Gospel” is a season of programmes and features that celebrates gospel music.  Gospel music and jazz share a deep, intertwined history, with gospel serving as a foundational influence on the development of jazz. Hosted by US gospel superstar Kurk Whalum the series will run for four weeks with Kurk playing songs from his own collection, starting Sunday 30th March up to and including Easter Sunday.

Immediately following that final episode on Easter Sunday (April 20th) will be a special programme called “The Story of UK Gospel” in which YolanDa Brown tells the little-told story of Black British Gospel Music and explores the essence of the genre, speaking with some of the genre’s most celebrated artists (David Grant, Guvna B, Moses Boyd, and Karen Gibson from the Kingdom Choir), and shining a light on its impact on the UK Jazz scene.  Music features in other programmes across the week running up to Easter will feature gospel themed music and stories.

Neil Cowley

Elsewhere “Neil Cowley’s Keys To Success” celebrates the keyboard through four instruments: the Hammond Organ, the Fender Rhodes, the Clavinet and the pianoforte.  Throughout the series, which kicks off on International Piano Day (29th March – the 88th day of the year!) he talks to musicians and experts about what it is about these specific instruments that make them so special.

Comedian and actor Ben Bailey Smith (aka Doc Brown) is back with a second series of his “Vinyl Hour” which celebrates his thousand-strong LP collection of jazz and soul, while drummer Binker Golding is back with a third series of his “Music Therapy” in which he discusses life’s challenges with fellow artists and what’s on their therapeutic playlists in time to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week in May.

Amongst all that, The Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music will be celebrated in the run up to this year’s ceremony at KOKO on April 24th. An All-Winners Easter Monday will feature music from the awards honourees since its inception in 2013, interspersed with some of this year’s nominees. There will also be special programmes on the day of the Awards ceremony itself and the following days.

Jazz FM will also be out and about at the summer jazz festivals with dozens of hours of broadcasts including The Cheltenham Jazz Festival in early May and the Love Supreme Jazz Festival at the start of July.  There’s also an international visit to the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival in May from where Simon Philips will broadcast his daily Afternoon Show for a week.

Programme details and transmission dates

• Neil Cowley’s Keys to Success
  9-10pm from Saturday 29th March – Saturday 19th April

• Kurk Whalum’s Gospel Collection
  9-10pm from Sunday 30th March – Easter Sunday 20th April

• The Story of UK Gospel with YolanDa Brown
  10pm – midnight Easter Sunday 20th April

• Jazz FM Awards All-Winners Easter Monday
  6am-midnight on Easter Monday 21st April with Nigel Williams, Danielle Perry, Simon Phillips and Jez Nelson

• The Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music
  Ceremony on evening of 24th April, with highlights including performances and winner interviews between 10pm – midnight, hosted by Nigel Williams

• Doc Brown’s Vinyl Hour
  9-10pm from Saturday 3rd -24th May
• Music Therapy with Binker Golding
  9-10pm from Sunday 18th May – 8th June
• Jazz FM at Cheltenham Jazz Festival
  Various programmes from Saturday 3th – Monday 5th May
• Jazz FM at Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival
  Tuesday 6th – Monday 12th May inclusive 2-6pm with Simon Phillips
• Jazz FM at Love Supreme Jazz Festival
  Various programmes from Friday 4th – Sunday 6th July