Jazz FM’s 2024 Festive Schedule is revealed

With dozens of hours of special Christmas programming around the music and the personalities selecting them, hosting duties fall to multi–Grammy Award winner Samara Joy, vocalist Laila Biali, US based British music Jon Cleary, a return to Jazz FM for Doc Brown and Binker Golding, and Mr Twinkletoes himself Anton Du Beke.

Christmas Eve will see live music from Paul Edis and an ensemble of ten musicians bringing new Christmas compositions alongside Christmas standards with a twist.

New Year's Eve will see Lady Blackbird join the line up before Robbie Vincent hosts three hours of your New Year's Eve party with the funky rhythms and Big Ben’s bongs.

And New Year’s Day becomes Q Years Day as we celebrate the life and music of one of most prolific musicians of the last 100 years, Quincy Jones, who died on 3 November. The day will feature a hand-picked selection of music across the day including a collaboration with the Official Charts Company to identify Quincy's biggest hits across his seven decades by streaming data. There's Quincy in concert, a repeat of the Quincy Jones Lost Tapes episode, a special edition of Jazz on Screen looking at his vast small and big screen soundtracks plus a brand-new documentary looking at his legacy in jazz with Richard Allinson, producer Steve Levine and an unheard interview with Quincy from 2007 and those who have worked with Q

Of the special programming, Jazz FM's Content Director Nick Pitts said "every year we deliver a stunning selection of special programmes. Always at the centre is the music, presented by our presenters alongside guest hosts who have an unquestionable passion for jazz, soul and blues. The chance to also celebrate the most amazing composer, musician, producer, collaborator - music's first influencer - Quincy Jones is a real highlight that you cannot miss.

And now with the new Rayo app, all of these amazing programmes will be searchable after the broadcast on our website and app to listen to when it suits the audience."

The season will also see the last show from Sarah Ward alongside a special love letter from everyone at Jazz FM to Sarah in a programme called "The Sarah Ward Celebration".

All programmes as usual except...

Saturday 21st

9-10pm – Celtic Christmas with Aisling Doherty (Repeat). A warming playlist of Celtic infused jazz. From traditional Irish folk, to contemporary piano from Scotland, Aisling’s got the perfect soundtrack to for a cold December evening.

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Sunday 22nd

9-10pm – Calypso Christmas with Etienne Charles (Repeat). The Trinidad born trumpeter, composer and storyteller presents a hour of festive Calypso, Parang, and Creole records.

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Monday 23rd

7pm - China Moses’ All American Family Christmas - timeless selections from the Great American (Christmas) songbook, and stories of festive cheer from home in Brooklyn.

10pm - A New Orleans Christmas with Jon Cleary - the Grammy winning pianist and singer joins us from home in Louisiana to choose a selection of music from the Crescent City with a festive edge. Expect to hear from Dr. John, Professor Longhair and many more.

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Tuesday 24th

7-10pm - The Sarah Ward Christmas Collection. With a roaring fire and glass of mulled wine, Sarah Ward is your soundtrack for final preparations and present wrapping.

10pm - A Jazzy Christmas - LIVE - Nigel Williams introduces pianist Paul Edis with a host of guest stars for a special live concert, packed with seasonal favourites. Recorded in London’s Pimlico exclusively for Jazz FM

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Xmas Day - Wednesday 25th

6.30-10am – Nigel Williams Live on Christmas Morning with music and messages.

10-1pm – Danielle Perry brings Christmas themed jazz, soul and blues to your family on Christmas morning.

1-3pm - YolanDa Brown on Christmas Day - joined by her dad for a family orientated Christmas celebration with music from the UK, the Caribbean and beyond, and stories from the Brown Family Christmas Tree.

3-5pm - Anton Du Beke. The Strictly Star joins us for two hours of wonderful big band holiday music, some of his choice favourites to dance around the kitchen.

5-7pm – Christmas Jazz On Screen with Tim Smith. Tim is back looking at small and big screen Christmas soundtracks.

7-9pm - Samara Joy’s Christmas Mixtape. join the Grammy winning singer as she brings joy to the world with a selection of favourite singers and christmas songs

9-11pm - Binker Golding's One Too Many - a lighthearted and relaxed jazz hang at the end of an exhausting day, with a chance to enjoy a drink and play a few board games with guests dropping in.

11-12am. Legends. Jazz FM revisits some of the documentaries from across the last 12 months that celebrate the legends of the music. Tonight it's Dinah Washington at 100.

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Boxing Day – Thursday 26th

2-5pm – Tony Minvielle’s Best of the Guests. Tony plays the music and hears from the best of his Sunday morning show guests this boxing day afternoon.

5-7pm – Doc Brown’s Boxing Day. Comedian and rapper Doc Brown (aka Ben Bailey-Smith) joins us once more to chill out with some groovy cuts taken from his personal vinyl collection.

7-9pm – Dinner Jazz with Laila Biali. The Canadian singer introduces a gorgeous collection of winter songs - perfect to warm up with on a chilly winter’s night.

9-11pm – Christmas Jazz on Screen with Tim Smith (repeat). A replay of last years show where Tim Smith played jazz from movies and TV.

11-12pm – Legends. Jazz FM revisits some of the documentaries from across the last 12 months that celebrate the legends of the music. Tonight, it's all about Love Supreme 2024’s headliner in ‘Dionne Warwick – Chartbreaker’.

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Friday 27th

9-11pm – The US3 Takeover with Geoff Wilkinson. The renowned UK producer takes over, promising a range of musical styles without boundaries, but always with MOJO - Music of Jazz Origin, encompassing jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, dance, R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano, disco, electronica and much more.

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Saturday 28th

9-10pm – The Sarah Ward Celebration. Immediately following Sarah’s final ‘The Sarah Ward Collection’ where she signs off from seven decades on the air, this special programme celebrates Sarah’s career hearing from those that Sarah has influenced but also hearing from the great lady herself.

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Sunday 29th

9-10pm - Legends. Jazz FM revisits some of the documentaries from across the last 12 months that celebrate the legends and related people of the music. Tonight we revisit the influential author with ‘James Baldwin at 100‘.

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Monday 30th

9-10pm - Legends. Jazz FM revisits some of the documentaries from across the last 12 months that celebrate the legends of the music. Tonight, we hear again the interview between Leo Green and David Sanborn, originally broadcast just after Sanborn’s death.

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New Years Eve – Tuesday 31st

6pm-6am – Jazz FM’s New Years Eve. Our soundtrack from early evening until the wee small hours with guest presenters and mixtapes.

6-8pm – John Osborne.

8-10pm – Lady Blackbird. Guest hosting for 2 hours with a selection of jazz funk, soul and blues!

10-1am – Robbie Vincent. The main man plays real jazzy rhythms for three hours including the famous Big Ben Chimes at midnight

1-3am – Acid Jazz Mixtape.

3-6am – Rouhangeze Afterglow. The ultimate chillout vibe is here with Rou!

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New Years Day – Monday 1st

6\am-12am – Jazz FM rebrands New Years Day as Q Years Day – a full on celebration of the legendary musician, composer, collaborator and producer Quincy Jones, who died on 3rd November 2023. With music and documentaries throughout the day.

6-10am – Nigel Williams on Q Years Day. With a hand selected curation of Quincy music from across the decades, including live pieces, collaborations and celebrations of classic Quincy albums. Also we dig into “The Official Quincy Jones Streaming Chart”, provided exclusively by the Official Charts Company.

10-2pm – Danielle Perry on Q Years Day. Continuing with a hand selected curation of Quincy music from across the decades, including live pieces, collaborations and celebrations of classic Quincy albums. Also we dig into “The Official Quincy Jones Streaming Chart”, provided exclusively by the Official Charts Company.

2-6pm – Chris Philips on Q Years Day. Continuing with a hand selected curation of Quincy music from across the decades, including live pieces, collaborations and celebrations of classic Quincy albums. Also we dig into “The Official Quincy Jones Streaming Chart”, provided exclusively by the Official Charts Company.

6-7pm – Quincy Jones on Screen. Tim Smith presents an hour of Quincy’s music from the big and small screen.

7-8pm – The Jazz Legacy of Quincy Jones. Superfan Richard Allinson is joined by a wealth of jazz stars including Jacob Collier, Pat Metheny, Jamie Cullum, George Benson, Siedah Garrett and Gregory Porter to talk about the incredible jazz legacy of Quincy Jones. PLUS, Richard and his friend the producer Steve Levine revisit a spontaneous interview they recorded with Q himself backstage after the Ivor Novello Awards in 2007.

8-9pm – Quincy Jones and Miles Davis, Live at Montreux. A special broadcast of the concert from the 1991 Montreux Jazz Festival including a word from Thierry Amsallem who was in attendance and heads up the festival today.

9-10 – The Lost Tapes: Quincy Jones (repeat). Helen Mayhew fronts this episode from the series of programmes that looks at the never-before-heard interviews of journalist Les Tomkins and the jazz legends from across the decades. In this episode, it’s a fascinating chat with Quincy Jones from 1963.

10-12 – Late Night China Moses: Quincy Songs Special. China selects two hours of her own favourite songs from Q as the day’s celebration comes to a close.