Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lena Horne | 20110905 | 20140807 (R2) | Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of some of the most influential women of jazz. Along with some great music, this four-part series will also focus on how some of Moira's favourite female jazz vocalists used their fame and notoriety to push social and musical boundaries, and to fight injustice and prejudice. We join Moira on her further discovery of these inspiring women, talking to the people who knew them. There are archive interviews and performances, as well as some of Moira's personal memories added to the mix. The series also features contributions from biographers and artists who have themselves been inspired by these 'strong and sassy' women. Lena Horne, Anita O'Day, Adelaide Hall, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. All fascinating women, for whom jazz was a way of life, and who made their mark on society. In programme one, Moira is joined by writer and historian Stephen Bourne to discuss the life and career of Lena Horne, a singer and actress whose left-leaning political views and involvement in the Civil Rights movement led to her being blacklisted in Hollywood. Having met and corresponded with Lena, Stephen gives us an insight into our first inspiring woman of jazz. We hear archive interviews from Lena, and her daughter Gail Lumet Buckley, as well as great recordings like Stormy Weather. Moira Stuart begins her celebration of influential women in jazz with Lena Horne. Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of jazz's great female vocalists |
| 02 | Anita O'day | 20110912 | 20140814 (R2) | Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of some of the most influential women of jazz. Along with some great music, this four-part series will also focus on how some of Moira's favourite female jazz vocalists used their fame and notoriety to push social and musical boundaries, and to fight injustice and prejudice. Programme two looks at the hard-swinging and equally hard-living American jazz singer Anita O'Day. Moira is joined by Ian McCrudden, a writer and director based in Hollywood, who co-directed and co-produced the Grammy nominated film Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer. She also speaks to Buddy Bregman, who arranged and conducted three of Anita O'Day's albums (Rules of the Road, Anita and Pick Yourself Up). Singer and Radio 2 presenter Clare Teal also tells us why she is such a fan. And of course, we'll hear some of the music and Anita herself, with recordings from the archive. Moira Stuart celebrates the American jazz singer Anita O'Day. Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of jazz's great female vocalists |
| 03 | Adelaide Hall | 20110919 | 20140821 (R2) | Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of some of the most influential women of jazz. Along with some great music, this series also focuses on how some of Moira's favourite female jazz vocalists used their fame and notoriety to push social and musical boundaries, and to fight injustice and prejudice. Programme three looks at the life and career of jazz singer and entertainer Adelaide Hall. Joining Moira is historian and writer Stephen Bourne, who wrote the biography Sophisticated Lady: A Celebration of Adelaide Hall, and we hear the singer herself in recordings from the archive. A central figure in the great resurgence of African-American music that began in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, Adelaide performed with Duke Ellington, Art Tatum and Fats Waller. We'll hear how Adelaide started out in music, and then settled in London to become one of Britain's best-loved entertainers. Moira Stuart celebrates the life and music of Adelaide Hall. Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of jazz's great female vocalists |
| 04 | Carmen Mcrae And Sarah Vaughan | 20110926 | 20140828 (R2) | Jazz lover Moira Stuart continues to explore the lives and music of some of the most influential women of jazz. In the fourth and final programme of the series she celebrates two American singers: Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan, who was also nicknamed 'Sassy'. Moira is joined by no less than three jazz singers to discuss the careers of Carmen and Sarah. They are Radio 2 presenter and singer Clare Teal, Irish singer Christine Tobin and Dianne Reeves, who recorded a tribute album to Sarah Vaughan. Moira Stuart celebrates Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan. Jazz lover Moira Stuart explores the lives and music of jazz's great female vocalists |