Montreux And All That Jazz - Episode 1

This summer Radio 2 celebrates the Montreux Jazz Festival with a short series of programmes about the annual music event. In the first programme, Jamie Cullum plays host to its founder, Claude Nobs, who talks about both the history of the festival and his personal memories. Founded in 1967, over the years the Montreux Jazz Festival has become an unmissable event for music fans in Switzerland and around the world. Its stages have been graced by some of music's greats, from Miles Davis to Ray Charles and from David Bowie to Massive Attack. Whereas jazz constitutes the festival's historic core, other styles of music were quickly integrated. Live music by Sangam, Bill Evans Trio, Nina Simone, Count Basie's Jam Session and Miles Davis complement Claude's stories about Nina and Miles, Quincy Jones, Wilson Pickett and Deep Purple. This is a chance for Radio 2 listeners to eavesdrop on an intimate conversation between a musician and a music lover Programme two is Claude's personal dream concert from the first 42 years of the festival. Jamie Cullum hears more about his choices which include Rachelle Ferrell in 1991, James Booker from 1978, Simply Red in 1986 and the Bill Evans Trio from 1968, and we're treated to spontaneous harmonica playing by Claude himself. The series concludes in August with four half hour programmes of highlights from the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival.