Summer programmes that celebrate the legends
The Music That Made Me, Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz and the return of Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels
We’re excited to share with you some of our summer highlights of programmes on Jazz FM, starting this weekend!
Following the celebration of new, up and coming jazz, soul and blues artists this spring at the Jazz FM Awards, we’re going to celebrate the legends of the genre throughout the summer. From today’s artists in conversation, to stories of past greats and tales of the legendary labels intrinsic to the promotion of jazz music and musicians, summer weekend evenings will tell the stories of the music in all its guises.
Our acclaimed “The Music That Made Me” returns for a sixth series with more huge names settling down into a deep conversation with host Nigel Williams to share how they were moulded by the music around them to make them the musicians they are today. From Sunday 20th July for seven weeks, we hear from keyboardist Bob James, drummer Billy Cobham, trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalists Joan Armatrading and Melody Gardot and jazz’s greatest living legend of today – Herbie Hancock. Between them they have 62 Grammy® nominations and 17 wins – legends indeed!
Our friend Leo Green returns to the station to present four-part series “Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz” in which he spends time looking at the music from those who were the pioneers of jazz and whose music still resonates today. He also celebrates musicians' who would have turned one hundred in 2025 in his “100 Club” which includes Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and Zoot Sims.
And then throughout September, ‘Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels’ returns looking at the role labels play in making legends, both from the past and of today. Every weekend through September, Danielle Perry spends Saturday night playing the music from a guest label and returns to tell their story on Sunday. This series focus’ on Columbia, International Anthem, Edition and Brownswood.
And finally, Sir Van Morrison turns 80 on Sunday 31st August and as a member of Sir Van’s carefully selected band, Leo will host a special version of his Legends show with stories of performing with Sir Van on the Saturday while on the Sunday you will also have the chance to hear again Sir Van’s ‘Music That Made Me’ first broadcast last year.
Keep and eye on the schedule for more details and these programmes get ever nearer, plus you’ll also be able to hear previous episodes of Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels and The Music That Made Me by searching for them in Rayo.