The Truth About Jazz

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Jazz And Diplomacy

20221216

Clive Myrie charts how jazz became a tool of protest, politics and subtle US diplomacy. He hears about Louis Armstrong's struggle with racism and meets musician Charles McPherson, who worked with the legendary jazz composer Charles Mingus - and discusses Fables of Faubus, one of Mingus's most explicitly political works. The song was written as a direct protest against Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who in 1957 sent out the National Guard to prevent racial integration at Little Rock Central High School.

Clive also remembers the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four children in September 1963. Veteran jazz musician Reggie Workman tells him how the attack led John Coltrane to write Alabama two months after the bombing. Clive also looks at how America's global radio service Voice of America began using jazz as a way of improving US diplomatic relations.

The Truth About Jazz was produced by Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright.

The series is a Made in Manchester Production which was originally produced for the BBC World Service.

Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.

Jazz And Protest

20221230

Clive Myrie concludes his series by examining jazz's role in protest, politics and diplomacy away from America. He hears how it clashed with the Nazis in World War Two and how people used jazz to cope with life in the concentration camps. There's the story of John Coltrane's big composition in Japan and Clive remembers how jazz became a huge part of the fight to end apartheid in South Africa. There's recollections from Dave Brubeck's son Chris and Darius before the series heads back to where everything began - at the home of the father of jazz', Buddy Bolden, in New Orleans.

Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright

The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production originally produced for the BBC World Service

Clive Myrie concludes his series examining jazz's role in protest, politics & diplomacy.

Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.

The Roots Of Jazz

20221209

Clive Myrie charts the early roots of jazz in the late 19th and early 20th Century. The programme visits the jazz museum in New Orleans and hears about the early jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden. Clive meets Robert Meeropol, the adopted son of Abel Meeropol who wrote the original poem that Billie Holiday's seminal protest song Strange Fruit was based on. He also hears the story behind the 1929 song Black and Blue. Mercedes Ellington remembers Black, Brown and Beige - her grandfather Duke Ellington's 1943 creation for his first concert at Carnegie Hall.

Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright.

The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production, originally produced for the BBC World Service.

Clive Myrie examines the early roots of jazz in New Orleans and hears early protest songs

Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.

The Voice Of America

20221223

Clive Myrie hears more about how jazz was used as a form of 'soft power' by the American establishment, via Voice of America radio broadcasts beyond the Iron Curtain. The State department was persuaded to send America's biggest stars overseas to promote US music, and the tours would bring jazz to new audiences all over the world. The programme looks at how Martin Luther King inspired jazz musicians in life and death Clive hears how a 16-year-old Danny Scher persuaded Thelonius Monk to play to a predominantly white audience at his high school in California in the late 60s.

Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright.

The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production and was originally produced for the BBC World Service

Clive Myrie continues his series on the history of jazz protest, politics and diplomacy

Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Jazz And Diplomacy	20221216	Clive Myrie charts how jazz became a tool of protest, politics and subtle US diplomacy. He hears about Louis Armstrong's struggle with racism and meets musician Charles McPherson, who worked with the legendary jazz composer Charles Mingus - and discusses Fables of Faubus, one of Mingus's most explicitly political works. The song was written as a direct protest against Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who in 1957 sent out the National Guard to prevent racial integration at Little Rock Central High School. Clive also remembers the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four children in September 1963. Veteran jazz musician Reggie Workman tells him how the attack led John Coltrane to write Alabama two months after the bombing. Clive also looks at how America's global radio service Voice of America began using jazz as a way of improving US diplomatic relations. The Truth About Jazz was produced by Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright. The series is a Made in Manchester Production which was originally produced for the BBC World Service. Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.
Jazz And Protest	20221230	Clive Myrie concludes his series by examining jazz's role in protest, politics and diplomacy away from America. He hears how it clashed with the Nazis in World War Two and how people used jazz to cope with life in the concentration camps. There's the story of John Coltrane's big composition in Japan and Clive remembers how jazz became a huge part of the fight to end apartheid in South Africa. There's recollections from Dave Brubeck's son Chris and Darius before the series heads back to where everything began - at the home of the father of jazz', Buddy Bolden, in New Orleans. Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production originally produced for the BBC World Service Clive Myrie concludes his series examining jazz's role in protest, politics & diplomacy. Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.
The Roots Of Jazz	20221209	Clive Myrie charts the early roots of jazz in the late 19th and early 20th Century. The programme visits the jazz museum in New Orleans and hears about the early jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden. Clive meets Robert Meeropol, the adopted son of Abel Meeropol who wrote the original poem that Billie Holiday's seminal protest song Strange Fruit was based on. He also hears the story behind the 1929 song Black and Blue. Mercedes Ellington remembers Black, Brown and Beige - her grandfather Duke Ellington's 1943 creation for his first concert at Carnegie Hall. Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright. The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production, originally produced for the BBC World Service. Clive Myrie examines the early roots of jazz in New Orleans and hears early protest songs Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.
The Voice Of America	20221223	Clive Myrie hears more about how jazz was used as a form of 'soft power' by the American establishment, via Voice of America radio broadcasts beyond the Iron Curtain. The State department was persuaded to send America's biggest stars overseas to promote US music, and the tours would bring jazz to new audiences all over the world. The programme looks at how Martin Luther King inspired jazz musicians in life and death Clive hears how a 16-year-old Danny Scher persuaded Thelonius Monk to play to a predominantly white audience at his high school in California in the late 60s. Producers: Ashley Byrne and Wayne Wright. The Truth About Jazz is a Made in Manchester Production and was originally produced for the BBC World Service Clive Myrie continues his series on the history of jazz protest, politics and diplomacy Clive Myrie examines the stories of protest, politics and diplomacy behind jazz.