Specials Episodes
1. For One Night Only
Jazz 625 Live: For One Night Only is a special 90-minute live show paying tribute to the iconic 1960s BBC Two jazz show of the same name. Broadcast live from the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and hosted by Andi Oliver the programme features a house band and special guests including Gregory Porter, Charlie Watts (from the Rolling Stones), Joshua Redman, Jacqui Dankworth and Cleo Laine. There is also a look at the classic archive from the original series and interviews and features looking back at a classic time in Jazz.
2. The British Jazz Explosion
The BBC's 1960s jazz programme returns for a one-off special celebrating the recent resurgence of the genre by a community of young Londoners, largely educated through grassroots organisations rather than conservatoire traditions. Presented by drummer Moses Boyd and DJ Jamz Supernova, the Jazz 625 studio hosts performances from saxophonist Nubya Garcia, groups Ezra Collective and Sons of Kemet, and singer Poppy Ajudha.
3. BBC Four Compilation for Jazz Britannia
A BBC Four Compilation following the Jazz Britannia documentary series. Vintage 1960s British jazz from the BBC's archives, presented by Steve Race and Humphrey Lyttelton. Featured performers are Bill Le Sage's Directions in Jazz ("Night Talk" and "Times Two and a Half"), Cleo Laine & Johnny Dankworth ("Oh, Lady, Be Good!" and "Woman Talk"), Victor Feldman Trio ("Swinging On A Star" and "Summer Love" (featuring Ronnie Scott)), The Johnny Scott Quintet ("Othello" and "Donna Lee"), Tubby Hayes Big Band ("The Killers of W1" and "In The Night"), Annie Ross with the Tony Kinsey Quintet ("Market Place"), George Lewis & Acker Bilk ("Corine Corinna") and Tony Kinsey Quartet ("Jaffa Daze").
4. Jazz 625 at the BBC
Programme celebrating the archive of this legendary BBC jazz concert show from the mid 1960s, so titled because the newly launched BBC 2 was broadcasting on 625-UHF lines (the HD of the time) unlike the 405-VHF of BBC 1 and ITV. It features classic performances from legends such as Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie and the Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley Sextet, alongside rarely seen sessions from the likes of Wes Montgomery, Marian McPartland, Chris Barber's Jazz Band, and Willie 'The Lion' Smith.
