15 July 2025
Jazz FM celebrates legends of jazz, soul and blues this summer
The Music That Made Me returns for a very special sixth series
Saxophonist Leo Green returns to Jazz FM for new series: Legends of Jazz
Following the celebration of new, up and coming jazz, soul and blues artists this spring at the Jazz FM Awards, the UK鈥檚 biggest jazz station celebrates the legends of the genre throughout the summer.聽 From today鈥檚 artists in conversation, to stories of past greats and tales of the legendary labels intrinsic to the promotion of jazz music and musicians, summer weekend evenings will tell the stories of the music in all its guises.
Jazz FM鈥檚 acclaimed The Music That Made Me returns for a sixth series with more huge names settling down into a deep conversation with host Nigel Williams to share how they were moulded by the music around them to make them the musicians they are today.
From Sunday 20th July for seven weeks, we hear from keyboardist Bob James, drummer Billy Cobham, trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalists Joan Armatrading and Melody Gardot, and jazz鈥檚 greatest living legend of today 鈥� Herbie Hancock.聽 Between them they have 62 Grammy庐 nominations and 17 wins 鈥� legends indeed!
Previous GOATs celebrated on this long running series include Sergio Mendez, Marcus Miller, Norah Jones, Nige Rodgers, George Benson and Harry Connick Jnr with all previous episodes available on the Rayo app.
Leo Green returns to the station to present four-part series Leo Green鈥檚 Legends of Jazz in which he spends time looking at the music from those who were the pioneers of jazz and whose music still resonates today like.聽 He also celebrates musicians’ who would have turned one hundred in 2025 in his 鈥�100 Club鈥� which includes Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and Zoot Sims.
Sir Van Morrison turns 80 on 31st August and as a member of Sir Van鈥檚 carefully selected band, Leo will host a special version of his Legends show with stories of performing with Sir Van.聽 That weekend listeners will also have the chance to hear again Sir Van鈥檚 episode of Music That Made Me first broadcast last year.
Finally, Jazz FM鈥檚 Guide to Labels returns for another series looking at the role labels play in making legends, both from the past and of today.聽 Every weekend through September, Danielle Perry spends Saturday night playing the music from a guest label and returns to tell their story on Sunday.聽 This series focus鈥� on Columbia, International Anthem, Edition and Brownswood.
Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts says: 鈥淲e thrive on telling stories about the music and the musicians.聽 After a vibrant start to the year spotlighting the cutting edge of today鈥檚 music community, focusing on the legends will remind us all why these artists and organisations are still in everyone鈥檚 music DNA today.鈥�
All programmes will also be available on Rayo for 28 days after initial transmission.
Former series of 鈥楾he Music That Made Me鈥� and 鈥楯azz FM鈥檚 Guide to Labels鈥� will also be available on Rayo in the run up to and throughout the new series.
