Chris Hodgkins to present new show on Jazz London Radio.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Trumpeter and former Director of Jazz Services Chris Hodgkins is to present a new programme titled "Jazz Then and Now" on London Jazz Radio. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Press Release ? Chris Hodgkins to present Jazz Then and Now

Jazz London Radio is pleased to announce that Chris Hodgkins will be joining the station with a new weekly show called “Jazz Then and Now”. 

The concept of the show is as Chris puts it ?what it says on the tin?. Chris will be delving into the history of the music and present what is happening on the scene today with a watchful eye on British contemporary jazz.  The show will run every Monday at 3pm and 8pm repeated on Wednesdays; and will complement nicely Todd’s Turntable by Todd Gordon which runs on Sundays at 12pm repeated Wednesday evenings. 

Chris Hodgkins recently retired after 29 years as the Director of Jazz Services, the national support charity for jazz music and musicians.  During his time at the organisation, he was honoured for his Services to Jazz at the 2002 BBC Jazz Awards and in July 2013 at the British Jazz Awards.  Despite his successes championing British jazz he still found the time to play himself, and as a musician released several great albums with his various groups, including 2009’s Boswell’s London Journal, which was reviewed as ?CD of the Week’ in the Evening Standard.  With his days of administration behind him, Chris now takes to the road, the radio and the recording studio to focus on playing the music he loves.

Hodgkins was raised in Cardiff.  He co-founded the Welsh Jazz Festival and was instrumental in establishing the Welsh Jazz Society.  As a professional trumpeter, Chris has toured the UK and Europe, appearing at the Sacramento Jazz Festival in the USA.  The Chris Hodgkins Band made a name for itself supporting the likes of Buddy Tate, Humphrey Lyttelton, Kathy Stobart, Bud Freeman and Wild Bill Davison.