Helen Mayhew: My Jazz FM

'I joined Jazz FM on the 5th of February 1990, one month before the launch day. I’d come from a job in BBC Local Radio, where I’d learned to conduct interviews, operate technical equipment and produce and present radio programmes. Jazz FM was a new adventure for me, the production office was a hubbub of chatter, laughter and argument, as we all worked to collect the music together that would form the backbone of the station’s output. It was a thrill to meet fellow presenters like George Reid, Peter Young, Jez Nelson and Chris Philips, all of whom generously shared their knowledge of jazz with me.

The launch day on the 4th of March 1990 was both exciting and exhausting, with a champagne-fuelled celebration party in the production office, while Ella Fitzgerald and Van Morrison were among the many stars who joined us on that day. Since the installation of the studio was only completed the previous night, none of the presenters had had any time to become familiar with the broadcasting equipment, so it was a baptism of fire for everyone.

I presented the evening show on that first day, including the first edition of Dinner Jazz, a show with which I became most strongly associated. Over the next 30 years as a presenter, I was lucky enough to meet and interview many jazz stars, some of whom are now sadly no longer with us, like Stanley Turrentine, Horace Silver, Michael Brecker, Freddie Hubbard and Geri Allen. It’s been a roller-coaster experience as the station has changed hands, changed names, and changed management, many times. In its 30th year, the music is sounding as good as it ever has been, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it all. Here’s hoping the station goes forward into the future as a great voice for jazz and a haven for jazz fans.'

Listen to Helen reflect on her 30 years with the station here: