Radio 2 Celebrates Jazz

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Plus, a look back at past Cheltenham performances as Laura Mvula sings Gershwin classics including Fascinating Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me and Clap Yo' Hands, reimagined in 2015 by arrangers Fabio D'Andrea and Troy Miller with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

There's also another chance to hear Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias' stand out set from the 2007 festival featuring her own compositions performed alongside the BBC Big Band led by arranger and jazz legend Bob Brookmeyer.

Jamie Cullum presents the Soul Jazz Summit from the 2023 Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

In this programme Clive hears about Amy's jazz roots and her passion for the genre which remained throughout her career even when she was singing songs which were more blues, soul or pop than jazz.

We join Amy's band which still tours the UK playing her songs and music and meet a variety of people who knew and worked with Amy closely over her career including Brad Webb who played jazz with Amy in her early years when she sang with his jazz trio, musician Luke Smith who co-wrote Take The Box with Amy and Jimmy Hogarth who was her song-writing partner on Help Yourself which features on her first album Frank.

Jazz singer, pianist and Radio 2 presenter Jamie Cullum remembers Amy in her early years when she was his support act while Annabel Williams, Amy's first vocal coach recalls Amy's amazing talent when she was just 16.

Her musical director Dale Davis, trumpeter Henry Collins, film composer John Altman, singer Mica Paris, jazz singer Dana Masters and Bronte Shand Kirkby (who now tours with Amy's old band singing her hits) are among those discussing Amy's contribution to jazz.

Clive tells us what he loves about Amy's approach and music and asks what she might have done next. Would jazz have played a much more prominent part in the star's life as she got older?

Clive Myrie celebrates the life and work of three women of jazz. This time Amy Winehouse

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

He reflects on the racism she faced throughout her life and how she rarely talked about it. We hear about the private, shy Ella who didn't find lasting love in her personal life, but who is still revered the world over for her powerful performances on stage.

Contributors include singers Mica Paris and Dana Masters, Ella's drummer Gregg Field, composer David Amram and film composer John Altman whose friend Benny Carter was widely credited with discovering Ella nearly 90 years ago. The show remembers how she made scat singing her own as well as her many duets with fellow icons such as Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Ella was often dubbed the 'Queen of Jazz', 'Lady Ella' and 'The First Lady of Song' and in this programme, Clive looks at her contribution to the jazz standards and making 'The Great American Songbook' very much her own.

Ella can also be credited with helping to introduce younger generations to jazz for the first time.

Clive examines her legacy and delivers his verdict on some of her great numbers from across the decades.

Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz is produced by Ashley Byrne

The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes

A Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2

Clive Myrie celebrates the life and work of 3 jazz icons. This time Ella Fitzgerald.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

In the first part of this three part series celebrating amazing women of jazz, Clive Myrie hears about Ella Fitzgerald's rags to riches success - singing on the streets of Harlem before being plucked from obscurity in a talent contest in 1934.

He reflects on the racism she faced throughout her life and how she rarely talked about it. We hear about the private, shy Ella who didn't find lasting love in her personal life, but who is still revered the world over for her powerful performances on stage.

Contributors include singers Mica Paris and Dana Masters, Ella's drummer Gregg Field, composer David Amram and film composer John Altman whose friend Benny Carter was widely credited with discovering Ella nearly 90 years ago. The show remembers how she made scat singing her own as well as her many duets with fellow icons such as Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Ella was often dubbed the 'Queen of Jazz', 'Lady Ella' and 'The First Lady of Song' and in this programme, Clive looks at her contribution to the jazz standards and making 'The Great American Songbook' very much her own.

Ella can also be credited with helping to introduce younger generations to jazz for the first time.

Clive examines her legacy and delivers his verdict on some of her great numbers from across the decades.

Clive Myrie's Amazing Women of Jazz is produced by Ashley Byrne

The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes

A Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2

Clive Myrie celebrates the life and work of 3 jazz icons. This time Ella Fitzgerald.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Nina was part of the 1960s civil rights movement in America, a period which really shaped her art and performances. She started out as a classically-trained musician and was a pianist as well as a singer-songwriter but was denied the chance to take up the classical role due to racism and in this programme Clive hears about Nina's early struggles from her daughter Lisa Simone.

Much of her music reflected the struggles she and other black women faced in the American South. Clive plays some of her biggest hits and also hears from Al Schackman who was Nina's guitarist (and later musical director) for more than 40 years and Paul Robinson who toured as her drummer for nearly 20 years.

Al and Paul give Clive an insight into how Nina created her unique performances on stage while sharing anecdotes about her personality. Record producer Andre Fischer recalls producing Nina's final album while jazz singer Thomas Lang shares his memories of supporting Nina at the Royal Festival Hall. There are additional contributions from jazz singer and pianist Jamie Cullum, film composer John Altman, singer Mica Paris and jazz singer Dana Masters.

Some say Nina isn't really jazz, and it's true she did cross into different genres, but Clive and others featured in this programme argue that her work is definitely rooted in jazz. But what did Nina think? Her daughter Lisa tell us all.

Peppered with archive of Nina herself, Clive reflects on his love of Nina's music as we hear lots of her hits from over the decades.

Produced by Ashley Byrne

Executive Producer: Kurt Brookes

A Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2

Clive Myrie celebrates the life and work of three jazz icons. This time, Dr Nina Simone.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Expect great music from artists on this year's line-up, as well as legends who have graced the Cotswolds stages in the past – plus, some special duets and live tracks Jamie has recorded at Cheltenham over the last decade.

Songs from Gregory Porter, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lee Konitz, Nubya Garcia and many more!

Jamie's Cheltenham Jazz Festival inspired mix.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Expect great music from artists on this year's line-up, as well as legends who have graced the Cotswolds stages in the past - plus, some special duets and live tracks Jamie has recorded at Cheltenham over the last decade.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

For this show, Seb has dug deep into his remarkable jazz record collection. Every album he pulls from the shelf comes with a story attached. He loves the music, but also the artwork, the sleeve notes, the smell and the sound of the vinyl. From a choice of thousands he picks his favourites from Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Erroll Garner, Billie Holiday and many more as he tells his remarkable story alongside this beautiful score. And yes, that Brubeck album is still on his shelves and will be brought out for the show!

Seb says: 'Jazz music has been one of the great loves of my life for as long as I can remember, and I'm really delighted at this chance to share that passion with the Radio 2 audience. When I walked out to the start of the 1500 metres in Moscow, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee ? began playing on my Walkman. The only problem will be choosing a dozen or so tracks from the thousands in my collection. ?

Seb Coe plays favourites from his huge jazz record collection.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Seb says: 'Jazz music has been one of the great loves of my life for as long as I can remember, and I'm really delighted at this chance to share that passion with the Radio 2 audience. When I walked out to the start of the 1500 metres in Moscow, `Just A Closer Walk With Thee` began playing on my Walkman. The only problem will be choosing a dozen or so tracks from the thousands in my collection.`

Reflecting a century of jazz, blues and soul with songs that include River Stay Away From My Door, Prelude To A Kiss, Come Rain Or Come Shine, I'd Rather Go Blind, On Revival Day, Please Send Me Someone To Love, Georgia On My Mind and What'd I Say.

Presented by YolanDa Brown.

Cheltenham Jazz returns for its 25th festival with a special celebration concert.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Cheltenham Jazz returns for its 25th festival with a special celebration concert featuring Gregory Porter, Paloma Faith, Joe Stilgoe, Vanessa Haynes, Tommy Blaize, Adi Oasis and Georgia Cécile accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Guy Barker Big Band.

Born in 1924, jazz singer and pianist Dearie's fragile voice disguised a determined and independent personality which enabled her to achieve decades of success. She was singled out by Teddy Wilson, one of the great style-setters of jazz piano, as one of his favorites. And she still has a strong cult following, due principally to her unique style and a keen sense of humour that remains relevant in many of her songs.

Kylie explores Blossom's career through the boppin' 40s, as she mixed with the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis and Miles Davis, as a member of the Blue Flames. We also hear from Michel Legrand who played with her in Paris in the 1950s. The programme then moves through the swinging 60s, when she recorded four albums in the UK, including her first live album recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. During this period she became friends with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, amongst many others.

There's no doubt that she was a great pianist and singer, but it was her assertive personality, combined with her approach to music, which made her such an inspirational figure for female musicians. She set up her own label, Daffodil Records, setting the trend for many other artists, and refused to perform if the venue didn't follow her rules, such as ensuring the crowd stopped smoking ten minutes before she arrived on stage.

Blossom continued to perform in New York and London until late into her life, and her last record was the 2003 single It's All Right to be Afraid, dedicated to the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks.

Helping Kylie chart Blossom's life through music are those who knew her best in the jazz and cabaret world. From New York we hear from her friend, the jazz singer Annie Ross, songwriter Dave Frishberg, jazz musician Bob Dorough and music authors Will Friedwald and James Gavin. Closer to home, British jazz star Dame Cleo Laine gives her musical insight and Spike Wells talks about his experiences drumming for Blossom at Ronnie Scott's.

Kylie Minogue pays a personal tribute to jazz artist Blossom Dearie.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

The east London singer, behind hits like Stone Cold Sober and New York, is an actress and former magician's assistant whose retro soul sound has been compared to Amy Winehouse.

Enjoy Paloma performing tracks from her album alongside the music of some of her idols, such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Another chance to enjoy Paloma Faith in concert with The Guy Barker Orchestra.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

A young Frank Sinatra met Billie Holiday in 1939 and was immediately captivated by her style and talent. Jamie Cullum looks back to that meeting, and celebrates the interconnected careers of two of the 20th Century's greatest interpreters of popular song. Sinatra and Holiday were born in the same year – 1915, and their very different lives and careers were inextricably linked By 1939, Holiday was already an established star, Sinatra was an unknown singer from Hoboken.

Twenty years later, Billie Holiday lay dying in New York's Metropolitan Hospital and Sinatra was at her bedside. Legend has it that he left the hospital to buy her heroin but couldn't get it past the police guards outside.

When she died, he locked himself in his room with her records and was inconsolable for days. A few months earlier he'd told an interviewer that she was “Unquestionably the most important influence on American popular music in the last 20 years. With a few exceptions, every major pop singer in the United States during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius. ?

Jamie Cullum is a huge admirer of both artists and in this programme he traces the story of their relationship and celebrates their talent .

Jamie Cullum looks at friendship between Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

A young Frank Sinatra met Billie Holiday in 1939 and was immediately captivated by her style and talent. Jamie Cullum looks back to that meeting, and celebrates the interconnected careers of two of the 20th Century's greatest interpreters of popular song. Sinatra and Holiday were born in the same year - 1915, and their very different lives and careers were inextricably linked By 1939, Holiday was already an established star, Sinatra was an unknown singer from Hoboken.

When she died, he locked himself in his room with her records and was inconsolable for days. A few months earlier he'd told an interviewer that she was `Unquestionably the most important influence on American popular music in the last 20 years. With a few exceptions, every major pop singer in the United States during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius.`

At the time poorly received, the records from this timeframe include Bitches Brew and On The Corner and represent the final creative flourish from one of the 20th Century's major musical figures.

The documentary includes newly sourced interview material from musicians who collaborated with Miles including Wayne Shorter, John Mclaughlin, Jack De Johnette and Dave Liebman. It was first broadcast in August 2009, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis' In A Silent Way.

Craig Charles explores the extraordinary music that Miles produced in his 'Electric Era'.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

Featuring Street Life, One Day I'll Fly Away and You Might Need Somebody.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

The Guy Barker Big Band, together with the sixty piece BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Guy Barker, tells the story of soul music with four outstanding soul singers, Shaun Escoffery, Tony Momrelle, Vanessa Haynes and Noel McKoy.

Among the songs, classics from Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles, Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder and more.

Presented by Ray Fearon.

First broadcast in May 2017

Sunday Night is Music Night presents 'Rhythm and Blues + Jazz = Soul' live from Cheltenham

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

The skiffle movement was created by members of the Chris Barber Band, and he broke new ground for jazz both in the US and behind the Iron Curtain, where he fame was once so great that he was able to travel without a passport! He played for President Kennedy and in the black blues clubs of 1950s Chicago and crossed musical boundaries as though they didn't exist.

The programme features extensive recollections from Chris himself, alongside contributions from Mark Knopfler, Paul Jones, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Van Morrison, Jon Hiseman, Phil Collins, Lonnie Donegan, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and more.

Chris Barber died in March 2021, and Radio 2 pays tribute with this programme which was originally broadcast in January 2013.

Jools Holland presents the first part of a major profile of the late British jazz great.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

The skiffle movement was created by members of the Chris Barber Band, and he broke new ground for jazz both in the US and behind the Iron Curtain, where he fame was once so great that he was able to travel without a passport! He played for President Kennedy and in the black blues clubs of 1950s Chicago and crossed musical boundaries as though they didn't exist.

The programme features extensive recollections from Chris himself, alongside contributions from Mark Knopfler, Paul Jones, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Van Morrison, Jon Hiseman, Phil Collins, Lonnie Donegan, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and more.

Chris Barber died in March 2021, and Radio 2 pays tribute with this programme which was originally broadcast in January 2013.

Jools Holland presents the second part of a profile of the late British jazz great

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

This two-part documentary features unreleased concert tracks and contributions from some of Nina's closest friends. These include Nina's high school friend Hannah Ferguson; her niece Joyce Stroud; her close friend Verta Mae Grosvenor; concert promoter Ron Delsener; her friend and Elektra Records A&R man Michael Alago, singer Patti Smith; and her drummer for 18 years - Paul Robinson.

In part one, we hear about Nina's musical beginnings as Eunice Waymon, a five-year old child prot退g退, learning classical piano with the help of people in her home town. She won a place at New York's famous Juilliard School, but was turned down by the elite Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. This was an incredible blow to the young Eunice Waymon, who turned to teaching piano and playing in bars to make ends meet. At this point she took the stage name Nina Simone.

She moved to New York City and signed her first record deal [not reading the small print which would cost her dearly later in her career]. New York was the place to be and Nina became closely associated with the civil rights movement, connected with both the radical black playwright Lorraine Hansberry and Malcolm X. She wrote her first protest song, Mississippi Goddamn, in 1963 - an enraged reaction to the deaths of four children in the bombing of a Sunday school in Alabama.

She also met and married Andy Stroud, who became her manager [and Simone's father]. Throughout the 60s, her output was prolific and she toured constantly in the US and Europe, always highlighting the civil rights message. When her marriage ended in the 70s, she left the US and became a global nomad, moving between Liberia, Switzerland, the Caribbean, the Netherlands, and finally France.

Nina's daughter Lisa explores her mother's life and career.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.

In part one, we hear about Nina's musical beginnings as Eunice Waymon, a five-year old child protégé, learning classical piano with the help of people in her home town. She won a place at New York's famous Juilliard School, but was turned down by the elite Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. This was an incredible blow to the young Eunice Waymon, who turned to teaching piano and playing in bars to make ends meet. At this point she took the stage name Nina Simone.

This two-part documentary features unreleased concert tracks and contributions from some of Nina's closest friends. These include Nina's high school friend Hannah Ferguson; her niece Joyce Stroud; her close friend Verta Mae Grosvenor; concert promoter Ron Delsener; her friend and Elektra Records A&R man Michael Alago, singer Patti Smith; and her drummer for 18 years - Paul Robinson.

In part two, Simone explores her mother's musical style and what she was like as a live performer. She began her performing career working as a singer-pianist in Atlantic City, taking her stage name from the French actress Simone Signoret. A commanding, if sometimes difficult, live performer, Nina often displayed an irrational temper but her shows were always an experience. Friends explain that this was due to her being bi-polar, a condition she refused to admit to during her lifetime.

A fluke UK hit of My Baby Just Cares For Me, a resurrected 50s master, pushed the singer, into the commercial spotlight when it reached number five in the 1987 UK charts, thanks to its use in a Chanel No 5. commercial. She also gave a series of mesmerising performances at Ronnie Scott's jazz club during this decade. She recorded the classic album Baltimore and her last album, A Single Woman, was released in 1993. We hear from A&R man Michael Alago about how he signed Nina and got her to record again.

Her musical style can only be described as fearless: she refused to be categorised and often sang soul, jazz, blues, gospel, and Broadway tunes over the course of an album or concert. An uncompromising personality, Nina Simone was one of popular music's great divas.

Nina's daughter Lisa continues to explore her mother's life and career.

Performances, playlists and documentaries from the history of jazz.