Jazz 625 Live

In the first live BBC black and white TV programme since the 1970s, BBC Four is bringing back the iconic 1960’s BBC show Jazz 625 with Jazz 625 Live: For One Night Only. Broadcasting live from Cheltenham during the Jazz Festival, the special show will feature a house band - led by pianist Robert Mitchell - with special guests including Joshua Redman, Jean Toussaint, Shirley Tetteh, Jacqui Dankworth and Gregory Porter. There’s also an exclusive recorded performance from legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, showing off his jazz-chops in a quartet with saxophonist Scott Hamilton.

Jazz 625 Live: For One Night Only is a special 90-minute live show paying tribute to the iconic 1960s BBC Two jazz show of the same name. Broadcast live from the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and hosted by Andi Oliver, the programme will feature a house band and special guests including Gregory Porter, Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, Joshua Redman, Jacqui Dankworth and Cleo Laine. There will also be archive performances from the original series and interviews and features looking back at a classic time in jazz.

With the passage of time, Bill Evans has become an entire school unto himself for pianists and a singular mood unto himself for listeners. There is no more influential jazz-oriented pianist – only McCoy Tyner exerts nearly as much pull among younger players and journeymen – and Evans has left his mark on such noted players as Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and Brad Mehldau. Borrowing heavily from the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel, Evans brought a new, introverted, relaxed, lyrical, European classical sensibility into jazz – and that seems to have attracted a lot of young conservatory-trained pianists who follow his chord voicings to the letter in clubs and on stages everywhere. Indeed, classical pianists like Jean-Yves Thibaudet have recorded note-for-note transcriptions of Evans' performances, bringing out the direct lineage with classical composers.

The biggest names in the current, buzzing UK jazz scene play live in a special edition of this iconic BBC jazz TV show. Sons of Kemet, Nubya Garcia, Kokoroko, Poppy Ajudha, Matthew Halsall, Moses Boyd and Exodus and Ezra Collective all contribute to an incredible line-up. The show, hosted by drummer Moses Boyd and 1Xtra presenter Jamz Supernova, also includes short films exploring the roots of the current UK jazz scene.

2008 release compiles all of Art Farmer and Jim Hall's live quartet recordings in their entirety including the 1963 Half Note performances and the extremely rare 1964 London concert. Features musical assistance from Steve Swallow, Walter Perkins and Pete La Roca. This material is presented here for the first time ever in one package. New and careful remastering, includes comprehensive 12-page booklet.

Wes Montgomery, live at The BBC Studios on March 25th 1965. Although he was terrified of flying, Wes Montgomery finally left the USA to visit Europe in early 1965. By that time he was recording in a smoother style, but in performance he remained as innovative as ever - as this virtuoso set attests. Broadcast on BBC radio during the Jazz 625 programme on 25th March.

Wes Montgomery, live at The BBC Studios on March 25th 1965. Although he was terrified of flying, Wes Montgomery finally left the USA to visit Europe in early 1965. By that time he was recording in a smoother style, but in performance he remained as innovative as ever - as this virtuoso set attests. Broadcast on BBC radio during the Jazz 625 programme on 25th March.

Grammy-nominated jazz/pop singer-songwriter Melody Gardot releases her first ever live album, Melody Gardot: Live In Europe.