Add to Playlist: Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Here I go, rivalling Russell by recommending radio programmes. If you listen to even one of this series, I bet you'll forgive me for BSH treachery.

The presenters are Cerys Matthews, who has an irresistible Welsh speaking voice, and Jeffrey Boakye. The idea of each programme is to explore the musical connections between five tracks, involving all types of music: jazz, pop, classical, folk, rap. The similarities can be theme, rhythm, tune, chords, anything you like, and you pick up all kinds of musical theory along the way and discover new music. And there are expert guests to help, who have included Laura Jurd (trumpet and flugelhorn) and local lass Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes). Not all jazz tracks but music which is full of interest.

You'll find this series of 45 minute programmes on Sounds and it's available indefinitely, with possibly more editions in the offing. Try it and you'll realise why it's won awards. Ann Alex