New schedule of programmes for Jazz FM evenings
As Helen Mayhew retires, there’s a wave of new shows to Jazz FM. Musicians Jon Cleary, Mica Millar and Leo Green join the station for regular programmes. Dinner Jazz returns to Friday nights alongside a Jazz Chill strand.
Last updated 15 hours ago
Jazz FM have announced some schedule changes in their evening ‘Discovery’ output following the retirement of Helen Mayhew. She left at the end of January after 36 years of association with the radio station going back to the day of launch on 4th March 1990.
Joining the station will be a host of musicians to tell the story of the music that they are famous for.
GRAMMY® award winning jazz musician Jon Cleary will be broadcasting weekly from his home in New Orleans with a weekly show about the music from the crescent city including guests and live performances.
Jazz FM Award winning vocalist Mica Millar will be joining to host a weekly show that celebrates the greatest musical instrument of all – the human voice in “Mica Millar’s Jazz Voices”. As an artist who has her second album coming out very soon, Mica has supported Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Gregory Porter.
And it’s a return to Jazz FM and a regular programme for saxophonist Leo Green. Leo – son of legendary broadcaster and musician Benny Green – returns to Jazz FM after being part of the relaunch line up in 2008. Leo is one of Sir Van Morrison’s musicians of choice and regularly tours the UK with his own band and others. Having recently returned as a guest host for various shows and projects, his fulltime return will focus on big band, swing and trad music.
There’s also a change to Friday nights with Dinner Jazz returning to the night alongside programmes that celebrate chill and electronica jazz.
These changes take effect from Monday 16th January, with Jon Cleary’s first show from NOLA taking place on the world-famous Mardi Gras Day so expect some real party vibes in his first show.
Jon Cleary: “Jazz FM has always been one of my favourite stations to enjoy when back home in Blighty, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to dig into my records and bring listeners a taste of my hometown, New Orleans, and the musical worlds that surround and inspire it, and maybe a few stories, too!”
Mica Millar: "I’m really excited to be joining the Jazz FM family and presenting my own show. Jazz FM have been huge champions of me and my music since I released my first album so to be able to present and champion other artists - particularly focussing on vocalists is going to be really special."
Leo Green: “I am so happy to be back on Jazz FM every Sunday night, for two hours of the greatest swing and jazz of all time. It’s a station I love and have a real affinity with and I can promise that for our two hours together every Sunday evening, the world will seem like a better place!”
Nick Pitts, Content Director of Jazz FM and Magic Classical: “It is sad to say goodbye to Helen after an astonishing run on Jazz FM, but we send her on her next journey in life with our best wishes and love and hope to hear all about it.
Meantime its great to be able to welcome Jon, Mica and Leo BACK to Jazz FM because all of them have presented shows as guest hosts over the last 12 months and sounded great and we know the audience will be pleased to have them back.
It’s also a real coup that we can have those that live and breathe the music they love as performers and then transfer and share that passion with our listeners.”
With these changes, it does mean that the station says goodbye to Reuben Green from regular programming but he will be returning in the summer to front some special programmes on weekend evenings.
There’s a celebration of Helen on Jazz FM’s Rayo app which features not only her final shows on Jazz FM but also a special inclusion of Helens’ FIRST show from the launch day of Jazz FM on 4th March 1990 alongside some other Helen archive content.
New schedule details from Monday 16th February
Mondays
0630 – Jazz FM Breakfast with Nigel Williams
1000 – Danielle Perry
1400 – Simon Phillips
1800 – Jazz FM’s Greatest with Mark Walker
1900 – Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker
2100 – Future Jazz with Ruth Fisher
2200 – Late Night China Moses
Tuesdays
As Monday except:
2100 – The Jon Cleary Show**.** Jon brings the music of New Orleans from his home in the city featuring the occasional guest and his own occasional performance!
Wednesdays
As Monday except:
2100 –** The Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show with Ian Shaw**. Relocating from Friday at 11, Ian brings the latest from the world’s most famous jazz club with backstage interviews and live performances recorded from across 50+ years
Thursdays
As Monday except:
2100 – Mica Millar’s Jazz Voices. Mica celebrates the greatest musical instrument of all – the human voice – with classic and contemporary recordings of some of jazz greatest vocalists and those up and coming.
Fridays
As Monday except:
1900 – Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker
2100 – Jazz Chill with Rouhangeze. Following on from the soothing sounds of Dinner Jazz, Jazz Chill provides the soundscape to relax further and enjoy a more ethereal side of jazz.
2300 – Jazztronics with Dom Servini. Dom moves from Wednesday to complement our Friday line up with electronica jazz and special guest selectors.
Sundays
0600 - Nia Visser
1000 - Tony Minvielle
1300 - Robbie Vincent
1500 - John Osborne
1700 - Blues 'n' Boogie with David Freeman
1900 - The Leo Green Show - big band, swing and so much more music for two hours to tap your feet to
2100 - Special documentaries
2200 - Jez Nelson