Jazz Night on BBC 4 TV, Friday, January 15, 2010

[J.A.W.]

BBC 4 Jazz Night (all times GMT)

From the BBC site:

"There's a variey of music on offer, with Jazz Night on Friday including performances from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Peterson and Thelonious Monk, as well as Arena's examination of Cool through the music that came to be known as cool jazz, and Storyville's Jazz Baroness documentary."

Edited January 11, 2010 by J.A.W.

[BillF]

Great! But, if I'm not mistaken, these items were broadcast a few months ago.

[J.A.W.]

Great! But, if I'm not mistaken, these items were broadcast a few months ago.

Yep, these are repeats. I don't have a problem with that

Edited January 11, 2010 by J.A.W.

[Jazzjet]

Great! But, if I'm not mistaken, these items were broadcast a few months ago.

BBC 4 - and Sky Arts - are about the only channels that broadcast jazz, albeit infrequently. I guess we should be grateful for what we get but it is frustrating that the same old Jazz 625 shows are trotted out. The BBC must have further shows in their vaults, for example the Stan Getz 'Jazz Goes To College' that they broadcast a year or so ago out of the blue, plus the Art Farmer Jazz 625. And when was the last time the BBC broadcast any new jazz? Perhaps Jonathan Ross's departure will free up some money to fund more jazz broadcasts?!!!

More generally, the BBC is becoming a cultural desert in its quest for ratings. For example, there are NO dedicated book shows on the BBC. You have to go to Sky Arts for that. No end of food shows though.

[A Lark Ascending]

Be nice if they could get their cameras into some concerts that are happening now. They manage to film all the Proms and hours of various singer and musician of the year competitions. And Glastonbury (that might be Channel 4!).

Edited January 11, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[Alexander Hawkins]

I'm really glad to see these again though, even if they are repeats...John Gilmore on that Blakey session is UNbelievable! Agree, it would be nice to see some film being made of stuff nowadays, although I do believe that they do a fantastic job on the radio. Listened earlier to the great Vijay Iyer interview from yesterday's Jazz Line-Up, and I invariably enjoy Jazz on 3 and Jazz Record Requests!

[Jazzjet]

I'm really glad to see these again though, even if they are repeats...John Gilmore on that Blakey session is UNbelievable! Agree, it would be nice to see some film being made of stuff nowadays, although I do believe that they do a fantastic job on the radio. Listened earlier to the great Vijay Iyer interview from yesterday's Jazz Line-Up, and I invariably enjoy Jazz on 3 and Jazz Record Requests!

I agree that Radio 3 in particular does a pretty good job of covering jazz. There was a suggestion a while ago that, rather than being ghetto-ised on the primarily classically oriented Radio 3, minority musics such as jazz, folk, blues and world music etc would justify their own specialist BBC station. This would also have the benefit of freeing up broadcasting time on both Radios 2 and 3.

[Alexander Hawkins]

That's an interesting idea - I'd certainly be interested in such a station! Having said that, I guess that Radio 3 has a large-ish listenership comparative to the 'specialist' BBC stations, so I suppose there's some merit in that...dunno...specialist station is an intriguing idea though...

[A Lark Ascending]

I know I've suggested that one on a few occasions - BBC 9 or whatever. The problem is that the BBC understands the importance of being commerially viable (R1+2; and it understands the importance of supporting, non-commercial 'high art' (R3).

But put the argument used to justify classical music forward as an argument for more jazz or folk or world and the 'not commercially viable' argument comes back. Two quite different measurements are at work.

Having said that, I do agree that the programmes they do put out are often excellent. But I would like they equivalent of the Saturday morning 'Record Review' for jazz.

Edited January 12, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[Alexander Hawkins]

But I would like they equivalent of the Saturday morning 'Record Review' for jazz.

That would be excellent! I used really to enjoy the Jazz File programmes as well - the things on at 6.00-6.30, in-between JRR and 'Live from the Met' (except for those weeks when they were doing a Wagner etc. )

[A Lark Ascending]

But I would like they equivalent of the Saturday morning 'Record Review' for jazz.

That would be excellent! I used really to enjoy the Jazz File programmes as well - the things on at 6.00-6.30, in-between JRR and 'Live from the Met' (except for those weeks when they were doing a Wagner etc. )

I always loved Brian Morton's 'Impressions' in the 90s - 'Jazz on 3' eventually replaced it. I've warmed to Jez Nelson, but he doesnt communicate the passion that Morton did. And going back a long way Charles Fox's 'Jazz Today' in the late 70s; and Peter Clayton's late Sunday night programme. They were my guides into jazz.

And Jazz Record Requests remains a gem...not prepared to scare anyone with much beyond Ornette (stylistically), but still hugely wide ranging.

[sidewinder]

Charles Fox's 'Jazz Today' in the late 70s; and Peter Clayton's late Sunday night programme. They were my guides into jazz.

And Jazz Record Requests remains a gem...not prepared to scare anyone with much beyond Ornette (stylistically), but still hugely wide ranging.

Charles Fox remains unsurpassed in my view as a jazz broadcaster. Scholarly whilst also being very accessible and with a real finger on the pulse re: new developments of the time. 'Humph' was also great - excellent for trad and mainstream but with an ear open for more modern sounds.

Talking of Humph - there's a new season of "Ken Clarke's Jazzmen" shows on BBC Radio 4 and Humph was the subject of show 1. I heard it this lunchtime - recommended !

Cannonball Adderley next week

Edited January 12, 2010 by sidewinder

[A Lark Ascending]

Yes, how could I forget Humph.

Gets my vote for his two books on jazz in the 20s to early 40s which resolutely tell you why you should listen to particular musicians rather than why other musicians are found wanting.

*************

Alex mentioned Jazz File - they used to do some wonderful multi-parters. I recall a very good one on Eric Dolphy. There was also a huge 'History of Jazz' - might even have been a whole year! Licensing probably would not allow it, but that really would be a series of programmes worth archiving on the website.

[sidewinder]

I'm really glad I managed to get Humph to sign a copy of his book and have a quick chat during the interval for the show of his I saw (in Taunton, about 5 years ago). Talking to him, you got the impression of a guy who really LOVED jazz - both playing it and also talking about it. Somehow we got chatting about Horace Silver (I might have asked for a request to be played on his show) and I was impressed about his knowledge of the Portugese connection and Horace's father coming from Cape Verde. Great guy, very much missed !

Edited January 12, 2010 by sidewinder

[Brad]

Are these through the web also or just on tv?

[sidewinder]

Are these through the web also or just on tv?

Available for view through BBC I-Player - not sure if this can be accessed outside the UK. See link at top of this thread.

Good to see that MJQ broadcast again. And to be reminded of how truly fine musicians all 4 of these guys (sadly no longer with us) were - beautifully arranged music, immaculately played. Plus the added bonus of Laurindo Almeida as guest. Love that bit on the bossa-nova number where 'Bags' lets loose on his solo, almost like he'd been let loose to stretch out at last.

Have seen the Blakey with Morgan and Gilmore many times now but it never fails to knock me out also. Anyone notice how they dubbed in a second or so of 'The Egyptian' right at the end of the last number (maybe there was a sound drop-out problem on the recording?)

Edited January 16, 2010 by sidewinder

[Shrdlu]

How do you download these iPlayer things? (I mean a permanent copy, not one of those Napster files with HIV.) Be nice to have a copy of the Blakey. It's not as if we are drowning in videos of him, or Lee Morgan, or John Gilmore.

Edited January 16, 2010 by Shrdlu

[A Lark Ascending]

Doubt that you can legally.

There might be gizmos that enable you to do so otherwise.

[Brad]

It's not available outside the UK; it's probably a copyright issue of the material presented.

[sidewinder]

The Art Blakey 'Jazz 625' can be purchased here:-

Blakey DVD

[Jazzjet]

Are these through the web also or just on tv?

Available for view through BBC I-Player - not sure if this can be accessed outside the UK. See link at top of this thread.

Good to see that MJQ broadcast again. And to be reminded of how truly fine musicians all 4 of these guys (sadly no longer with us) were - beautifully arranged music, immaculately played. Plus the added bonus of Laurindo Almeida as guest. Love that bit on the bossa-nova number where 'Bags' lets loose on his solo, almost like he'd been let loose to stretch out at last.

Have seen the Blakey with Morgan and Gilmore many times now but it never fails to knock me out also. Anyone notice how they dubbed in a second or so of 'The Egyptian' right at the end of the last number (maybe there was a sound drop-out problem on the recording?)

And why does the BBC only ever show the second Monk show - the one with Straight No Chaser? I don't think they've ever shown the first show since it original transmission. Also, the Oscar Peterson - which was supposedly restored and re-edited - looked like the version re-done in the 90s, with Flora Purim doing the introduction. It was only 26 minutes long, and that included Flora's intro.

Maybe we should be grateful for anything we get, although this is not a viewpoint I agree with. If the BBC treated their classical and opera archive the way they do jazz there would be an outcry, and quite rightly.

Does anyone know what the BBC has in its archive? Clearly there are treasures in there - witness the Stan Getz 'Jazz Goes To College' broadcast last year.

[J.A.W.]

Are these through the web also or just on tv?

Available for view through BBC I-Player - not sure if this can be accessed outside the UK. See link at top of this thread.

The BBCi Player is "U.K. only" for copyright reasons.

[Shrdlu]

I will tell you one thing that the bbc has in its archive. Not Jonathan Woss, but four fantastic episodes of its Arena series featuring Slim Gaillard (1989). Those were awesome, and I'd love a pirate copy.