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7 January 2022

Jazz Meets Classical this January on Jazz FM and Scala Radio

This January join Jazz FM and Scala Radio as they come together for a U.K. radio first with a brand-new series which will be heard across both networks on the same evening over six weeks that explores the link between two great musical genres, classical and jazz.

To many, classical and jazz are worlds apart, one is heard in grand halls, the other in some of the world’s most intimate venues but in this series Scala Radio’s Jack Pepper and Jazz FM’s China Moses will argue otherwise.

Beginning on the 9th January 2022, the pair – who are both also established and highly respected musical artists in their respective fields – will introduce each other to the music they love, and explore the grey areas, crossovers and curious links across the series six episodes.

Joining China and Jack on this journey are a collection of great musical minds that have straddled the jazz and classical divide, from Maria Schneider to Nigel Kennedy, who will delve deep into their careers and boundary blurring work.

As an exciting ending each episode will finish with a piece of live music, recorded especially for the series by the Jazz Meets Classical House Band which is led by esteemed pianist Robert Mitchell, alongside a group of talented players from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. The recordings will cover everything from Beethoven to Wayne Shorter and show that the two worlds have more in common than you might think.

Funded by the Audio Content Fund, this also marks the first time the two Bauer Media Audio brands have come together to produce and present a jointly branded series of programmes.

You can listen to Jazz meets Classical from 9th January on both Scala Radio (8pm) and Jazz FM (9pm)

Episode details can be found below:

Episode 1: Composers – 9th Jan

Composer Jack Pepper and jazz musician China Moses take a look at composers – interesting figures, underrated names and some all-time greats – playing music from Duke Ellington to Darius Milhaud, and investigating George Gershwin’s classic Rhapsody in Blue at the piano. The multiple Grammy award-winning composer and jazz orchestra leader Maria Schneider is this week’s guest – she tells China that learning how music makes us feel was a key step at the start of her genre blurring career, which has taken in collaborations with everyone from soprano Dawn Upshaw to pop chameleon David Bowie.

Episode 2: Performers – 16th Jan

Music from Nina Simone and André Previn. Focusing in on Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli’s version of Cheek to Cheek. The house band play Bach. This week’s guest is Nigel Kennedy.

Episode 3: Connections – 23rd Jan

Music from Shostakovich and Mary Lou Williams. Focusing in on Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo A La Turk performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. The house band play Bizet. This week’s guest is Terence Blanchard.

Episode 4: Teachers and Influencers – 30th Jan

Music from Ravel and Quincy Jones. Focusing in on Clair de Lune and Kamasi Washington’s version. The house band play George Russell.  This week’s guest is Gary Crosby.

Episode 5: Improvisation and Interpretation – 6th Feb

Music from Betty Carter and Handel. Focusing in Robert Mitchell and Shirley Smart’s take on CPE Bach. The house band play Wayne Shorter. This week’s guest is Angel Blue.

Episode 6 Arrangements – 13th Feb

Music from Leonard Bernstein and Ella Fitzgerald. Focusing in on Kurt Weill’s Mack the Knife, as sung by Dee Dee Bridgewater. The house band play Duke Ellington. This week’s guest is Jules Buckley.

 

– ENDS –

 

For further press information, please contact:    

Cat Martin – Communications Director, Bauer Media Audio     
T: 0207 432 3317 M: 07932 746 363    

Amelia O’Shea – Head of Communications, Bauer Media Audio UK    
T: 0207 432 3417 M: 07718 489342    

Notes to Editors    

About Scala Radio:    

Scala Radio is an entertainment radio station that breaks the mould of classical music in the UK. Presenters include Simon Mayo, Angellica Bell, Penny Smith, Alexis Ffrench and Mark Kermode. Alongside familiar masters such as Mozart, Beethoven and Bach, you can expect to hear contemporary works including film, TV and video game scores, showtunes from musicals and instrumental re-workings of pop and rock songs by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Led Zeppelin and Dua Lipa.    

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 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.

About China Moses:

Born into a performing family of mother (three times Grammy winning) Dee Dee Bridgewater and father (stage and screen Director) Gilbert Moses II in Los Angeles, China has been performing to worldwide audiences since the age on 18. She has also been a Co-presenter of the UNESCO International Jazz Day celebrations and her latest album release sees her collaborating with some of today’s hottest jazz talent.

About Jack Pepper:

Jack Pepper is one of the UK’s youngest commissioned composers. In his teenage years, he wrote music for the Royal Opera House, the Royal Philharmonic Society, for The Band of HM Royal Marines and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has recorded his work with acclaimed conductors including Sir Antonio Pappano, Vasily Petrenko and Kirill Karabits and as a performer, he has appeared as a vocalist at Wembley Arena and was a guest on the piano alongside Platinum-selling string quartet Bond at their 20th Anniversary celebration concert.

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