The Definitive History of Jazz in Britain Part One of Ten: Jazz FM - April 4.

This first episode didn't hold a lot of interest in the actual music played but, in the various observations from the past such as The Original Dixieland Jazz Band is arriving in Britain, Thanks for the warning - Punch 1919, and in the present in the form of observations by such as Nick Ball, Adrian Cox and Digby Fairweather, it made for compelling listening.

Initially, jazz was seen as, part dance music, part novelty and part comedy - the latter two categories could well apply to some of today's improv offerings!

The programme gave extended coverage to Will Marian Cook's Southern Syncopaters Orchestra's visit to Europe with Sidney Bechet as part of the ensemble (cue for Adrian Cox) as well as the collision with an another boat off the coast of Scotland that saw them lose nine of their members.

We also heard about bands such as the Savoy Orpheans and musicians such as Fred Elizalde. 

What further brought jazz closer to home was: The emergence of local radio such as 2LO in London and various other major cities. Newcastle had its own station, situated in old Eldon Square at the time - my mother actually broadcast from there in 1925 albeit not jazz!

Moving pictures such as The Jazz Singer which although it had nothing to do with jazz - Jolson  never did - brought the word once more into the public eye.

And, in 1926, the arrival in print of The Melody Maker (The Bebop Spoken Here of its day!) gave fans and musicians the opportunity to interact although the word (interact) probably hadn't been invented then!

Part Two, 9:00pm next Sunday moves into the 1930s. A must listen.

Lance.