Jazz Alley

Donald Helme

Wednesday, 7 - 8pm

Take a walk down Jazz Alley on Wednesday evenings at 7pm with Donald Helme, featuring the best in classic and contemporary jazz, focusing on the curious, quirky, obscure and neglected.

For more about Donald, click HERE

Music played on Jazz Alley and past programmes...

Susannah McCorkle

Monday February 13th...
The Singers Upfront Part 7 - Susannah McCorkle...

Alas, Susannah never became a household name, choosing to reflect the inner values of the great songwriters of the 20th century in her own unadorned and intimate way. She was born in 1946, took up singing in the 1970s and has over 20 superb albums to her name, accompanied by some of the finest jazz musicians. Behind her sexy and charming style lay a lifelong struggle with depression which caused her to end her own life in 2001.

In this 13 part series, Donald Helme serves up concentrated helpings of music from 12 popular singers for an hour each week, all having commonality through their desire to appeal to a mass audience whilst setting their own standards as to the degree with which they accepted commercial considerations. Some were - some are - more successful than others. All took the step to being "upfront" on stage and in the spotlight. The group includes such popular icons as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald, but it also includes less well-known artists like Karrin Allyson and Susannah McCorkle.

The programmes approach their subjects from different angles, some detailing their lives, some holding back on the personal and focusing on the music.

Music played on The Singers Upfront and past programmes...

Howard Alden

Wednesday February 15th...
Guitar Heaven...

In this week's Jazz Alley the focus is on the most popular instrument in the western world - the guitar. A staple of jazz since the amplifier became available in the 1930s, the guitarist has become one of the stand-alone musicians in jazz performing solo, duo, trio all the way to Big Bands. This week we hear from George Van Eps, Howard Alden, Anthony Wilson and Jimmy Bruno among others.

The Jazz Alley Audio Archive Vault...

The Jazz Alley Audio Archive Vault...

Over the last few years Jazz Alley has presented a number of programmes of special guest interviews, performances and even dedicated entire weekends to certain artists.

Now you can listen back to some of those programmes at your leisure in the Jazz Alley Audio Archive and see Donald's Top 10 Jazz Records.