CHILLI JAZZ RADIO NEWSJAZZ GEMS

STAR-SPANGLED RADIO HOUR

This week step into the golden age of big band radio with a closer look at Les Brown, one of the most celebrated bandleaders in American music

Wednesday 11th May 5pm

Friday 5pm, Sunday 12pm

The Sound of Swing Excellence

Les Brown

From chart-topping recordings to unforgettable broadcast performances, his legacy continues to define the timeless sound of swing.

Les Brown was a renowned American bandleader, saxophonist, and composer best known for leading the Band of Renown and helping bring swing music to a wide radio audience. He rose to national fame through hits such as Sentimental Journey with Doris Day and became a familiar presence through decades of performances with Bob Hope, radio broadcasts, and television appearances.

THE JAZZ SET

WITH TOM STEVENS

Wednesday 11th May 8.00pm

JAZZ GEMS

WITH TOM STEVENS

MONDAY'S 11.00PM

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BIG BANDS & JAZZ

NOT TO BE MISSED DRIVING HOME WITH TOM

Thursday 30th April 5pm

The Michele Monro Podcast

The Thursday 7th May 7pm -8pm

Michele Monro talks about her father the legendary singer Matt Monro.

This Month Michele interviews Bobby Crush: Stories, Parallels & Memories of Matt

In this special guest interview, pianist and entertainer Bobby Crush joins us to share how his journey connects with Matt’s, from career parallels to behind-the-scenes encounters. With candid reflections and plenty of anecdotes, Bobby’s recollections were so rich we expanded the conversation into a two-part episode.

TODD'S TURNTABLE

THURSDAY 7th May 8PM

FRIDAY 2AM & 7PM, SUNDAY 4PM,

Do not miss the brilliant Tod Gordon and his themed shows

THIS WEEK

The Cole Porter Songbook – Rarities (1891–1964)

Cole Porter (1891–1964) was a celebrated American composer and lyricist famed for witty, sophisticated lyrics and enduring melodies. Born in Peru, Indiana, he was encouraged by his mother, Kate, studied violin and piano, and composed early; after Yale and a brief spell at Harvard Law, he committed to music. Rising to prominence in the 1920s, he wrote music and lyrics for more than 30 stage and film productions, including Anything Goes (1934), Kiss Me, Kate (1948—winner of the first Tony Award for Best Musical), and Can-Can (1953), and standards such as “Night and Day,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love.”

RECORD OF THE WEEK

Les McCann Ltd. & Lou Rawls – Four Classic Albums (2CD Remastered)

AVID Jazz presents a remastered 2CD edition pairing three early-1960s Pacific albums by Les McCann Ltd. with Lou Rawls’ classic Stormy Monday

Les McCann began his jazz career in the late 1950s with a run of Pacific Records albums. Starting out as a singer, drummer and tuba player, he went on to become a largely self-taught jazz pianist, with a formative spell at Los Angeles City College. While his early work is sometimes overshadowed by his later success in the late 1960s and 1970s—when he became a cool jazz-funk star and a favourite source of hip-hop samples—this set shines a light on some of his finest early-1960s recordings for Pacific. CD1 features two standout performances from his famed Ltd. Trio (one studio, one live). Our third selection adds the incredible guitarist Joe Pass to the line-up—an inspired addition. The fourth album finds Les alongside Lou Rawls on the classic Stormy Monday, with Leroy Vinnegar and Ron Jefferson, and of course Rawls’ immaculate vocal performance.

The Big Band Heat

WITH TOM STEVENS

This week Callum Au Joins Big Band Heat Saturday 16th 2.00pm

also Sunday 8pm & Monday 2pm

Tom has brilliant show's packed with new music and interviews

Joining Tom on Big Band Heat this Saturday is British trombonist, composer, and arranger Callum Au. Rising through the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and hailing from Blackpool, Au has become one of the most exciting voices in contemporary big band music.

Sing Seven Seas

Sing Seven Seas marks a major new chapter for British composer, arranger, and trombonist Callum Au. Internationally recognised for shaping the sound of artists including Michael Bublé, RAYE, and Josh Groban, Au now brings his own creative voice to the forefront with a large-scale recording of original music.

Written for an expanded ensemble of more than 80 musicians, the project stretches beyond the traditional big band format, blending classic swing, contemporary jazz, and rich orchestral colour. The recording brings together an exceptional mix of established performers, emerging talent, and leading soloists from across the British music scene.

The music is wide-ranging and vividly imagined, from the social-media energy of Swipe Right! to the atmospheric inspiration behind Murmurations. Spread across two volumes, Sing Seven Seas showcases both sides of Au’s writing: bold experimentation and a deep-rooted love of the big band tradition.

NOW YOU HAS "JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ"

WITH JOHN PETTERS

Saturday's 7pm

Sunday 7pm, Monday 7pm, Tuesday 12am, Wednesday 5am

Saturday 9th May 8pm

Sunday 2pm Monday 4am, Tuesday 6pm

Join David Harding-Price tonight for his fabulous Blue's Show

Joining David this week on Sapphire Sounds This Week:

Big Easy (featuring Victoria Skingsley‑Bartholomew & Chris West)

On Sapphire Sounds this week, David is joined by Victoria and David from Big Easy, featuring vocalist Victoria Skingsley‑Bartholomew’s bluesy soul style and guitarist/songwriter Chris West, a platinum award‑winning producer. Big Easy can perform as an intimate duo or scale up to a powerful seven‑piece band of top musicians.

MEET THE PRESENTERS