Jazz FM’s 2025 Festive Programmes

With dozens of hours of special Christmas programming around the music and the personalities selecting them, hosting duties fall to jazz and soul singer Kandace Springs, Gospel conductor Karen Gibson, a return to Jazz FM for Leo Green, Judith Owen, and Mica Millar plus a very special programme from Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar.

Christmas Eve will see live music from Paul Edis, Jo Harrop and Friends, supported by a 9 strong band, bring their Jazzy Christmas tour to the Elgar Rooms at the Royal Albert Hall. Expect live Christmas songs with a jazz twist - some you know, and some you don't!

You’ll find there’s live music with a look back to this summer’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival, and also a replay of the Jazz FM Awards ceremony which returned in 2025.

Plus, a chance to listen back to some of our documentaries and specials from across the year including The Jazz Of The Talented Mr Ripley hosted by Guy Barker MBE, Binker and Moses take on Coltrane’s A Love Supreme from when it turned 60 over the summer, plus another change to hear our tribute to Sir Van Morrison on the occasion of turning 80 and YolanDa Brown’s The Story of UK Gospel special.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg – New Years Eve and Day promise to be a real treat, and details on that is to follow as we get closer to it.

In the meantime, see below for all the programme details of who is on when, but don’t forget all will be available to listen to after transmission on Rayo whenever you want so be sure to download that if you haven’t done so already.

All programmes as usual except...

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Saturday 20th

9-10am – The Jazz FM Book Club with Tim Smith (First in series). The Book Club returns for a winter run, where Tim looks at the best books out right now along with author conversations. This week, Broadcasters and musicians Carrie and David Grant join the Jazz FM Winter Book Club to share Joy to the World — their warm, musical celebration of Christmas.

9-10pm – Jazz on Screen at Christmas. Tim Smith is back with a one off to celebrate the best jazz, soul and blues as featured in Christmas films and TV from across the years.

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Wednesday 24th - Christmas Eve

6-7pm – Jazz FM's Christmas Greatest. We've asked some of the Jazz FM presenters for their favourite Christmas songs of all time. It's quite a list!

7-9pm – Jazz FM's A Jazzy Christmas with Paul Edis, Jo Harrop and Friends. Supported by a 9 strong band, Paul brings his Jazzy Christmas tour to the Elgar Rooms at the Royal Albert Hall. Jo provides the vocals as Nigel Williams hosts. Expect live Christmas songs with a jazz twist - some you know, and some you don't!

9-10pm – A Gospel Christmas. Karen Gibson MBE from London's Kingdom Choir is here with an hour of uplifting Christmas Gospel music

10pm-12am – Late Night China Moses from New York. As final preparations for the Big Day come to a close, China heads onto the streets of New York City to present this special selection of Christmas jazz, soul and blues in the shadow of the Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan

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Thursday 25th - Christmas Day

6-8am – Nia Visser. For the early risers on Christmas Day, Nia is here with a selection of Christmas Jazz, Soul and Blues

8-11am – Nigel Williams on Christmas Day. Nigel is here, live, with music from Jazz FM's 'sleighlist' plus we'll be hearing from special guests Gregory Porter, Kandace Springs and Georgia Cecile

11-2pm – YolanDa Brown's Family Christmas. In what has become a Jazz FM Christmas Day tradition, YolanDa is joined by her (Yolan)Dad Ivan for a special show in which they play great music for the family, play games and talk about their family Xmas' of years gone by

2-4pm – Judith Owen. From Wales via New Orleans - singer Judith Owen spins a selection of festive favourites, including a sprinkling of Christmas cheer from her home in the Crescent City, and some new music from her own Christmas EP.

4-6pm – Leo Green. The Jazz FM favourite and man with the most amazing little black book presents a programme of Christmas music from his collection plus stories and the odd special surprise guest or two (or three)

6-9pm – Dinner Jazz with Kandace Springs. The acclaimed jazz singer and pianist brings us a festive selection of relaxing classics to unwind after a busy Christmas Day.

9-10pm – Sammy Davis Jnr at 100 with Danny John Jules (REPEAT). Another chance to hear the celebration originally broadcast at the start of the month on the occasion of SDJnr's centenary. The British actor (best known for Red Dwarf and Death In Paradise) is a superfan of Mr Bojangles himself, even having performed a one-man-show in honour of his musical hero. Tonight, Danny tells the life story of Sammy Davis Jr. through his music.

10pm-12am – Chris Philips and Jez Nelson. The Jazz FM OG's and lifelong friends provide you with an alternative end to your Christmas Day with a superb jazz soundtrack

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Friday 26th - Boxing Day

2-6pm – Tony Minvielle’s Best of the Guests. Tony digs into his 2025 interview archive and presents the highlights from his regular Sunday morning show.

7-9pm – Adrian Dunbar. The actor - best known for the role of Ted Hastings in Line of Duty - presents two hours of his favourite jazz

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 27th

9-10pm – The Jazz of The Talented Mr Ripley (REPEAT). Celebrating the jazz side of this acclaimed movie, which turned 25 earlier this year, with star guests including trumpeter Guy Barker MBE who arranged some of the original score, and crew member Tim Bricknell.

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Sunday 28th

9-10pm – Coltrane's A Love Supreme at 60 (REPEAT). Originally broadcast last February when Coltrane's seminal jazz album turned 80, fan's Binker Golding and Moses Boyd (aka the musical duo Binker and Moses) talk through the album and how it influenced them

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Monday 29th

9-10pm – Leo Green's Legends of Jazz - Sir Van Morrison (REPEAT). In this special episode from the summer, Leo Green hosts a special celebration of Sir Van Morrison as he turned 80. Leo is one of Sir Van's musicians of choice to work with and they have worked together for years, so this programme brings special insight, stories and surprises, plus live music from trusted members of the Sir Van Morrison Alumni Band.

10pm-12am – Jazz FM Awards 2025 (REPEAT). A chance to hear the Jazz FM Awards 2025 ceremony hosted by Ben Bailey-Smith (aka Doc Brown) on stage and Nigel Williams behind the scenes, with live perfomrances from award winners Jamie Cullum, Mark Kavuma and Alice Zawadski

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Tuesday 30th

9-10pm - Highlights of Love Supreme 2025 (REPEAT). An hour of the best performances and conversations from across July's Love Supreme Jazz Festival.

10pm-12am - The Story of UK Gospel (REPEAT). Originally broadcast at Easter, there's another chance to hear YolanDa Brown tell the little-told story of Black British Gospel Music and explore the essence of the genre, speaking with some of the genre’s most celebrated artists, and shining a light on its impact on the UK Jazz scene.