The Cookers, Cécile & the blues...all night long

(Preview by Russell)

There's a good helping of jazz 'n' blues on TV and radio this week. Tonight at ten o'clock on ITV there is a one hour programme - Bublé - featuring the said Micky Bubbles backed by a 36-piece orchestra. Of particular interest to regular BSH readers is a promised duet with Cécile McLorin Salvant (singing La Vie en Rose). The show will be repeated next Friday (April 26) at 10:45pm. Best to watch it this evening because on Friday over on BBC 4 you'll have the blues all night long...

From nine o'clock on Friday it's blues all the way. John Lee Hooker: the Boogie Man is an 'in-his-own-words' documentary about the legendary Mississippi bluesman. Some of the usual talking heads contribute including Van the Man, Keef and Bonnie Raitt. Talking of Mr Richards, at 10:00pm The Rolling Stones at the BBC is a repeat of a 2012 programme which, at the time, included previously unseen footage from Top of the Pops. 

Blues and Beyond with Cerys Matthews and Val Wilmer follows at ten with broadcaster Matthews teaming up with esteemed writer and photographer (of dozens of jazz and blues greats*) Wilmer. It's a repeat but this is one occasion when it's a most welcome opportunity to see it again. The final programme of the evening - Blues at the BBC - is yet another repeat (starting at a quarter to midnight), however, alongside archive material of Slowhand, Freddie King and others, there is the rarest of rare film of Son House! 

Tune in to Radioland tonight (the pictures are better), Radio 2, 10:00pm, to listen to The Swing and Big Band Show with Clare Teal. At eleven it's Jools Holland (Radio 2) with an 'in-session' set from Cedric Burnside. The grandson of RL Burnside recently gave a terrific, down home, electric country blues performance at Cluny 2 in Newcastle.  

Easter Monday - clear the decks! First, Huey Morgan sits in for Cerys Matthews on The Blues Show (Radio 2, 9:00pm) then retune to Radio 3 (11:00pm) to catch Jazz Now. The Cookers - that's David Weiss' NYC-based super group - feature in a live set presented by Soweto Kinch. Sharing the stage with trumpeter Weiss will be Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Donald Harrison (alto sax), Billy Harper (tenor sax), Danny Grissett (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass) and drummer Victor Lewis.  

Tuesday (Radio 2, 9:00pm) it's The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum. Always worth a listen, this week particularly so, with Jean Toussaint talking jazz with Cullum. Finally, on Friday (April 26) there's another radio repeat. Friday Night is Music Night (Radio 2, 8:00pm) was recorded in 2017 at Billingham's Forum Theatre. Madeline Bell, Anthony Strong, Joe Stilgoe and others are joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform classic arrangements by Gordon Goodwin, Stan Kenton, Nelson Riddle and others. So, some good viewing and listening during the week but don't forget to get out and about - as the MU says: Keep Music Live!

* Those lucky enough to be part of last night's sold out Strictly Smokin' Big Band Great Day in Harlem concert at Gosforth Civic Theatre will, no doubt, want to see yet more evocative images of some of the truly great characters of jazz and blues.     

Russell.

Link to Hugh's comment.