I’ve been to the historic radio wonderland that is the Maida Vale studios many times over the years as a listener, but it wasn't until June last year that Jazz on 3 paid its first visit to record at the legendary venue. In the spirit of Radio 3's British Music month we picked two bands that represent the best of different generations of UK jazz, and let them loose in front of a live studio audience. For me, it was one of the musical highlights of 2013 and this week we'll be giving you another chance to hear the session on the programme.
Black Top (see photo above) has an ever-evolving line-up that filters the history of black British music through its cutting-edge soundworld. The group marries adventurous treatments of dub and reggae samples with avant-garde playing – featuring the superb horn-work of Steve Williamson and Byron Wallen as well as the spoken-word offerings of guest HKB Finn. Multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson and keyboardist Pat Thomas are at the heart of things, filling the Maida Vale stage with an array of weird and wonderful kit (xylosynth, anyone?) These are all players close to my heart and it’s great to hear them in this progressive set-up.
Trumpeter Laura Jurd is one of the most exciting musicians to have emerged over the last year – so fresh-faced that in fact she had only just played her final college recital the day before this performance. She may be young but as you'll hear, her ambitious and imaginative grasp of composition is well beyond her years and she’s joined by four equally impressive up-and-coming players. Listen out in particular for Lauren Kinsella, whose free-ranging vocals and de-constructed syllables really impress on the track 'Raw on the Inside'.
Join me for this very special performance on Monday 6 January from 11pm, or listen online for seven days after broadcast.
Jez
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on twitter at @BBCJazzon3
