Since 2010 Folded Wing has produced The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2. In that time Jamie has hosted over 170 sessions and conducted over 150 interviews with jazz legends and lovers alike. His first show aired on 6th April 2010, here’s what Jamie has to say about the show and setting up his first programme.
“It's been an incredible journey, not only for me presenting this show, but also the explosion of jazz and jazz appreciation in the last 15 years as well. It's just been fantastic to be right here presenting during all that time.
Live music has been right at the heart of my show ever since it started 15 years ago, and some of the absolute legends of jazz music have performed live or recorded sessions along with many of the brilliant younger artists from the current UK scene. For my very first show on the 6th of April, 2010, I wanted a live session from the BBC's Maida Vale studios that really shined a light on the current music scene at the time. That was really bringing British jazz into the 21st century. And there was one band who was really, really doing that at that time, kind of paving the way for what we have now. Really very very much so coming at it with the love of jazz, but also a modern kind of indie rock sensibility. It felt young. It felt very fresh.
So it was very important for me to have [Polar Bear] on the first show.”
We spoke with Folded Wing’s CEO Karen Pearson about creating the show with Jamie.
"This show and working on it alongside Jamie is the thing I’m the most proudest of.
It’s a true partnership - built on a proper genuine passion and love of jazz and everything connected to it but more than anything it’s built on friendship and mutual respect.
Not a minute goes by that the Folded Wing team or Jamie take for granted what responsibility they have for jazz or for BBC Radio 2.
There was a journey to how the show came together…
In 2006, we went to Lorna Clarke (Director of Music, BBC) with a crazy idea to commission a live collaboration between Jamie and Japanese Jazz Sextet Soil & “Pimp” Sessions for the Electric Proms. She believed in the idea and went for it! That session was magical for a number of reasons and truly showed the transformative aspect of music. Despite language barriers Jamie and Soil & Pimp gelled, in music it was like they spoke the same language. The following year Mari Kumura from Shalala invited us to Japan – my first visit – to take the project there.
My music friendship continued with Jamie and he came along to get sweaty at the Broad Casting nights I did at Cargo, London with Mulatu & The Heliocentrics, Tony Allen & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble amongst others.
Then in 2009 I received the call I never expected to get from him asking if me and Folded Wing would produce his new weekly jazz show for Radio 2, what a dream! At the time the BBC wanted to keep the production in-house but we set about recording a pilot to show that we really meant business!
The pilot was a success and Bob Shennan and Lewis Carnie commissioned us for a 7pm show every week! Thanks to Jamie’s manager Marc Connor for helping so much with this.
Jamie cared as much as me about launching a whole new jazz show & understood the responsibility of the undertaking. Hours were spent in our studio - sometimes in our old small and warm voice booth (Getting sweaty again!) - where he would be so patient doing many retakes until we were both happy!
Just as when we were recording the pilot Jamie brought the same great energy when we were getting ready for doing the show live.
Fifteen years on, Jamie smashes it each & every week taking the show with him wherever he goes in his busy life. The love for music and how he prepares and cares about each interview he does is testament to what a fantastic broadcaster he has become. I’m so proud to be working with him and how our friendship and respect for each other continues to grow.
With Ezra Collective winning the Best Group at this year’s Brit Awards, we’re seeing that Jazz, especially in the UK, is a growing beacon in the music industry. So, here’s to the next 15 years, there’s no slowing down now! "
Thank you to everyone who made/makes this show happen
Lorna Clarke,
Mari Kimura,
Bob Shennan, Lewis Carnie and the first team at BBC Radio 2, Julian Grundy, Robert Gallacher, Al Booth, Jeff Smith as well as the current day Helen Thomas and Laura Busson who help us deliver the show each week & still believe & support us!
Jamie’s team over the years who have been the best- Marc, Gary, Sian, Jonny, Sheila Rachel and Jenny
Biggest thanks go to…
Ian Parkinson and Micky Curling for trusting and understanding my vision from day one and helping me make the show shine!
The whole of the Folded Wing team past & present who always went and above & beyond to make sure the show is always pushing & to keep winning awards!
You can listen to the 15th Anniversary Show here>
