Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Doc Cheatham | 20150316 | 20160720 (R3) | Critic Martin Gayford tells the stories of his encounters and friendships with leading jazz musicians as a fan, an amateur music promoter and, latterly, as a journalist. In this first programme, Martin recalls his meetings with Doc Cheatham, a trumpeter whose lengthy career spanned almost all recorded jazz. In an attempt to befriend one of his musical heroes, Martin booked the octogenarian Doc to play a gig in Cambridge. The tactic worked, when he embarked on a tour with Doc and found himself rooming with him in Soho. Here Doc told Martin his stories of playing in bands in Nashville, accompanying Billie Holiday, deputising for Louis Armstrong and becoming a celebrated solo artist in his own right. Producer Paul Smith, for Just Radio. Martin Gayford recalls touring with octogenarian trumpeter Doc Cheatham. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |
| 02 | Marian Mcpartland | 20150317 | 20160721 (R3) | Critic Martin Gayford tells the stories of his encounters and friendships with leading jazz musicians as a fan, an amateur music promoter and, latterly, as a journalist. The British pianist Marian McPartland found fame across the Atlantic, spending six decades at the heart of the swinging New York jazz scene and hosting a long-running National Public Radio programme. When Martin brought her to Cambridge for a concert, he reflected on their shared suburban upbringings.ii. Martin Gayford recalls his meetings with British-American pianist Marian McPartland. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |
| 03 | Ruby Braff | 20150318 | 20160722 (R3) | Critic Martin Gayford tells the stories of his encounters and friendships with leading jazz musicians as a fan, an amateur music promoter and, latterly, as a journalist. The American cornettist Ruby Braff had a fierce reputation for a bad temper and his scrapping with bandmates, but from his home in Cape Cod, he used to regularly call Martin for long, revealing telephone conversations. Martin Gayford remembers revealing telephone conversations with cornettist Ruby Braff. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |
| 04 | Sonny Rollins | 20150319 | Critic Martin Gayford tells the stories of his encounters and friendships with five leading jazz musicians as a fan, an amateur music promoter and, latterly, as a journalist. Martin recalls the lessons that he learnt from his two meetings, over the space of a 12 years, with the saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins. Martin travelled to New York in 2010 to interview him on the eve of a concert celebrating his 80th birthday, his life changed by the events of September 11th, when his lower Manhattan home was destroyed. Martin Gayford recalls the lessons that he learnt from meeting saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. | |
| 05 | Jimmy Rowles | 20150320 | 20160726 (R3) | Critic Martin Gayford tells the stories of his encounters and friendships with leading jazz musicians as a fan, an amateur music promoter and, latterly, as a journalist. Martin describes his encounters with 'miscreant grandfather substitute' pianist Jimmy Rowles. Rowles's varied musical career saw him achieve success as a solo artist and the vocal coach at the Hollywood studios, where he taught Marilyn Monroe how to sing. Martin Gayford describes his encounters with pianist Jimmy Rowles. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond. |