Great British Jazz Recordings

Great British Jazz Recordings

Author: BBC Radio 3 April 29, 2012 Duration: 31:22

In the final edition of the present series of Jazz Library, Alyn Shipton presents archive interviews with Kenny Baker, Vic Lewis, Coleridge Goode and Annie Ross in which they select some highlights of British jazz records from the 1930s to the 1960s, from Chicagoan-style Dixieland to free jazz.


Curated by BBC Radio 3, Jazz Library is more than a simple listening guide; it’s an invitation to explore the vast and varied landscape of jazz history through its most essential recordings. Each episode focuses on a single, pivotal artist, from the foundational giants to the pioneering innovators, offering a deep and contextual dive into their work. You’ll hear insightful commentary alongside carefully selected musical excerpts that trace artistic development and highlight landmark albums. This approach provides a rich, narrative framework, transforming a collection of songs into a coherent story. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the genre's breadth or simply looking to deepen their appreciation, this podcast serves as a trusted companion. It helps in building a meaningful and personal archive of jazz, one informed by knowledge and passion rather than chance. Tune in to discover the stories behind the sounds and find a clearer path through one of music's most rewarding traditions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Jazz Library
Podcast Episodes
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:43
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was one of the most technically brilliant jazz double bassists from the 1960s to the early 2000s, until his sudden death from a heart attack in April 2005. Most famous for his work with Osca…
Harry 'Sweets' Edison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
The star trumpeter with Count Basie in the 1930s and 40s, Harry Sweets Edison went on to become one of the most recorded trumpet soloists in jazz. In an interview recorded for Radio 3 in 1992 he joined Alyn Shipton to se…
Stephane Grappelli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:36
Looking back on the long recording career of Stephane Grappelli, Alyn Shipton is joined by Martin Taylor who played with the great French violinist for several years. The music spans over fifty years from the first 1930s…
Jo Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:35
In the Count Basie Orchestra from 1936-48, Jo Jones redefined jazz drumming. Percussionist Richard Pite joins Alyn Shipton to select Jones's finest recordings, and to demonstrate some of his innovations in the studio. As…
Alex Welsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
Alex Welsh was a fine traditional and mainstream trumpeter, who led one of Britain's best jazz groups from the 1950s to the 1980s. Digby Fairweather, who knew him well and inherited Welsh's cornet, joins Alyn Shipton to…
Cedar Walton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:30
A one-time member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton is one of the most sought-after and versatile pianists in jazz. He joins Alyn Shipton to discuss records made under his own name, as well as work with Blake…
Tim Garland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Originally in folk-jazz group Lammas, leader of a regular band at London's Pizza Express and then recruited to join Chick Corea, Tim Garland is now one of Britain's best known jazz saxophonists. In this programme he join…
Gypsy Jazz Guitarists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:07
John Etheridge joins Alyn Shipton to suggest the best recordings by three generations of gypsy guitarists whose work is often overshadowed by Django Reinhardt. Artists covered include the Ferre family, Bireli Lagrene, Fa…
Harry Beckett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:51
Barbados-born Harry Beckett was one of the most fiery and inventive trumpeters in British jazz, right up until his death in July this year. Chris Batchelor joins Alyn Shipton to look back at Beckett's recordings, and to…
Esbjörn Svensson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
Before his death in 2007, Esbjörn Svensson was regarded as the leading pianist in European jazz. His trio (EST) topped the Swedish charts and appeared on MTV. His appeal was broad enough to reach audiences of every age,…