Raise a Glass to Miles, Joe & Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

(By Russell)

Fancy a drink before noon? Tune into Brew Masters on Quest tv (available on freesat) at 10:00am, Saturday 4th, to hear the story of Dogfish Head Brewery’s efforts to brew, then market a beer celebrating the 40th anniversary of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew.* If 10:00am is too early, catch the repeat at four in the afternoon. If Fred and Ginger are more to your liking, how about Flying Down to Rio at 1:00pm (BBC 2)?  Moira Stuart remembers Joe Sample, Radio 2, Sunday at 11:00pm.    

Monday evening – make that the early hours of Tuesday (3:45am) – C4 screens a classic Billy Wilder adaptation of James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity. Also, on Monday evening proper (11:00pm), Jazz on 3 offers a quick repeat of Ambrose Akinmusirie’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival set. Julia Biel is Jamie Cullum’s guest (Tuesday, 7:00pm). Biel’s new EP is the hot topic. Jazz artists releasing EPs, singles, 180g vinyl albums – quick, dust-off your gramophone, analogue recording is the new cool!

Finally, on Thursday at eleven in the morning, tune to Radio Four to join Lenny Henry in America as he learns more about playwright August Wilson. In August Shines Henry (the now straight actor) visits Pittsburgh to explore the life and work of the man who penned a number of award-winning plays including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences (Henry starred in a recent revival).                   

Russell.

*See also http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/in-mood-for-bitches-brew.html