Jazz FM announces summer schedule for 2025.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Jazz FM celebrates legends of jazz, soul and blues this summer. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz FM set for a ‘legendary’ summer.

Jazz FM celebrates legends of jazz, soul and blues this summer

The Music That Made Me returns for a very special sixth series

Saxophonist Leo Green returns to Jazz FM for new series: Legends of Jazz

Following the celebration of new, up and coming jazz, soul and blues artists this spring at the Jazz FM Awards, the UK’s biggest jazz station celebrates the legends of the genre throughout the summer.  From today’s artists in conversation, to stories of past greats and tales of the legendary labels intrinsic to the promotion of jazz music and musicians, summer weekend evenings will tell the stories of the music in all its guises.

Jazz FM’s acclaimed “The Music That Made Me” returns for a sixth series with more huge names settling down into a deep conversation with host Nigel Williams to share how they were moulded by the music around them to make them the musicians they are today.

From Sunday 20th July for seven weeks, we hear from keyboardist Bob James, drummer Billy Cobham, trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalists Joan Armatrading and Melody Gardot, and jazz’s greatest living legend of today – Herbie Hancock.  Between them they have 62 Grammy® nominations and 17 wins – legends indeed!
Previous GOATs celebrated on this long running series include Sergio Mendez, Marcus Miller, Norah Jones, Nige Rodgers, George Benson and Harry Connick Jnr with all previous episodes available on the Rayo app.

Leo Green returns to the station to present four-part series “Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz” in which he spends time looking at the music from those who were the pioneers of jazz and whose music still resonates today like.  He also celebrates musicians’ who would have turned one hundred in 2025 in his “100 Club” which includes Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and Zoot Sims.

Sir Van Morrison turns 80 on 31st August and as a member of Sir Van’s carefully selected band, Leo will host a special version of his Legends show with stories of performing with Sir Van.  That weekend listeners will also have the chance to hear again Sir Van’s episode of ‘Music That Made Me’ first broadcast last year.

Finally, ‘Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels’ returns for another series looking at the role labels play in making legends, both from the past and of today.  Every weekend through September, Danielle Perry spends Saturday night playing the music from a guest label and returns to tell their story on Sunday.  This series focus’ on Columbia, International Anthem, Edition and Brownswood.

Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts says:
“We thrive on telling stories about the music and the musicians.  After a vibrant start to the year spotlighting the cutting edge of today’s music community, focusing on the legends will remind us all why these artists and organisations are still in everyone’s music DNA today.”

All programmes will also be available on Rayo for 28 days after initial transmission.
Former series of ‘The Music That Made Me’ and ‘Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels’ will also be available on Rayo in the run up to and throughout the new series.

SUMMER OF LEGENDS – FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS

THE MUSIC THAT MADE ME – Series 6 (Sunday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Nigel Williams /  Producer: Chris Gilvear
20th July – BILLY COBHAM (pre-listen to this first episode of the series here)
27th July – HERBIE HANCOCK
3rd August – JOAN ARMATRADING
10th August – CHRIS BOTTI
17th August – MELODY GARDOT
24th August – BOB JAMES

LEO GREEN’S LEGENDS OF JAZZ (Saturday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Leo Green /  Producer: Chris Gilvear
2nd August – Featuring MEL TORME’s induction into the ‘100 Club’
9th August – Sax legend ZOOT SIMS is inducted into the ‘100 Club’
16th August – OSCAR PETERSON joins Leo’s ‘100 Club’
23rd August – Blues icon BB KING is inducted into Leo’s ‘100 Club’

SIR VAN MORRISON AT 80
Saturday 30th August – Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz - Sir Van Morrison Special
Sunday 31st August – Music That Made Me – Sir Van Morrison (rpt from 2024)

JAZZ FM’S GUIDE TO LABELS (Saturday and Sunday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Danielle Perry /  Producer: Heather Wall
6th September – The Music of Columbia
7th September – The Story of Columbia
13th September – The Music of Edition Records
14th September – The Story of Edition Records
20th September – The Music of International Anthem
21st September – The Story of International Anthem
27th September – The Music of Brownswood
28th September – The Story of Brownswood

About Jazz FM:
Jazz FM is the largest commercial jazz station in the world, celebrating the complete spectrum of Jazz in all its colourful forms since 1990. Jazz FM broadcasters, producers and team are true devotees, with a deep love and understanding of their particular jazz shade, their passion is vivid, their enthusiasm infectious, sharing the finest jazz with everyone.
As the UK’s only dedicated Jazz broadcaster, Jazz FM is on a mission to entertain, promote and celebrate all that’s great about Jazz. Involvement with national festivals and holding the annual Jazz FM Awards is part of this - setting the bar high for live performance, recognising outstanding talent and strengthening the Jazz community.
No matter how people tune-in they always listen in colour.