From time to time there is something worth tuning into on BBC Radio 4 Extra. This afternoon (Sunday) a repeat of a programme first broadcast in December 2011 looked at African-American musicians who chose to base themselves in Scandinavia. In Blue Notes, Cold Nights blues musician Eric Bibb, himself acquainted with life on this side of the Atlantic, surveyed how the scene was way back and now.
Bibb put things in perspective with the help of none other than broadcaster, author and musician, Alyn Shipton* who reminded us that as far back as the 30s American musicians toured in Europe and Scandinavia, Benny Carter for one. Key venues were pinpointed - the Golden Circle in Stockholm and the Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen - at which American musicians were given free reign to perform as they wished. Their presence enriched the jazz scene, and, to a degree, influenced the direction of European jazz. Sidney Bechet, Ben Webster, Don Cherry, Dexter Gordon (pictured) and George Russell were just some of the household names who visited Europe and, in some cases, stayed on.
First broadcast almost ten years ago, the programme touched on emerging difficulties for black American musicians across the continent. Sadly, in 2021, racism continues to rear its ugly head in ever more alarming forms. Blue Notes, Cold Nights was a timely repeat, lessons could/should be heeded. Russell
* Alyn Shipton presents Jazz Record Requests every Sunday over on Radio 3 at four o'clock.
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