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Best of 2025: sessions, words and music

Gilles picks his favourite moments of 2025, from the Brit Funk special with Level 42 to Florence Adooni’s session, to the interviews with Joe Bataan and Marshall Allen.

Gilles looks back and picks his favourite moments of the year, from the Brit Funk special with Level 42 and Bluey to Florence Adooni’s fra fra session; from his conversations with two legends, Joe Bataan and Marshall Allen, to the tributes to Roy Ayers and D’Angelo.
Plus, music from El Léon Pardo, The Cosmic Tone Research Trio, Emma-Jean Thackray and Sessa.

Produced by Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 6 Music

14 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Sat 27 Dec 202515:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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keiyaA at Maida Vale and best albums of the year

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Best of 2025, Part 3

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Music Played

  • Rahsaan Roland Kirk

    Oboe's Blues (Live at The Village Gate in New York City, November 1963)

    • Resonance Records.

  • Gene Chandler and Jerry Butler

    Be Yourself

    • Mercury.

  • Thee Sacred Souls

    On My Mind (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Ronnie West

    Lil' Woman

    • Goins Intro-Prizz Records.

  • Thee Midniters

    Making Ends Meet

    • Whittier Records.

  • Joe Bataan

    Under the Street Lamp

    • Fania.

  • Joe Bataan

    Young, Gifted and Brown

    • Fania.

  • Ralfi Pagán

    Just One Of Your Kisses

    • Fania.

  • Lynda Dawn

    Play Fair (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Joe Bataan

    Aftershower Funk

    • Mericana Records.

  • Sun Ra Arkestra

    Angels And Demons At Play

  • Sun Ra Arkestra

    Calling Planet Earth

    • Freedom.

  • Sun Ra Arkestra

    Space Is The Place

  • Sun Ra Arkestra

    Spontaneous Simplicity

    • Strut.

  • Marshall Allen

    New Dawn (feat. Neneh Cherry)

    • Mexican Summer / Week-End Records.

  • The Cosmic Tones Research Trio

    Sankofa

    • Mississippi Records.

  • Pat Thomas

    Track is Precious Gift

    • Feedback Moves.

  • Fred Moten, Pat Thomas, Brandon Lopez

    Anon (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Eska

    Human (Live at Maida Vale)

    • Kartel Music Group.

  • El León Pardo

    La Perica

    • AHA Records.

  • Los Pirañas

    El Nuevo Prometeo (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Florence Adooni

    Fo Yelle (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Mulatu Astatke

    Kulun

    • Strut.

  • Sessa

    Vale a Pena

    • Mexican Summer.

  • SOYUZ

    KROK

    • Mr Bongo.

  • Herbert & Momoko

    Babystar

    • Strut.

  • lovetempo

    But I Do

    • Razor-N-Tape.

  • Dana and Alden

    Ivan's Theme

    • Sauna Boys.

  • Dana and Alden

    Paper Tiger

    • Sauna Boys.

  • keiyaA

    take it (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Emma‐Jean Thackray

    Save Me (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Jamie Woon

    Heavy Going (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Lewis Taylor

    Bittersweat

    • Island Records.

  • D’Angelo

    The Root

    • Virgin.

  • D’Angelo

    Brown Sugar

    • EMI.

  • Chronixx

    Survivor

    • Forever Living Originals.

  • Roy Ayers

    Chicago

    • Uno Melodic Records.

  • Herbie Mann

    Can You Dig It

    • Embryo Records.

  • Young Disciples

    Paul's Tune

  • Thundercat & Roy Ayers

    MacDonald's Drug Money

  • Level 42

    Starchild (Live at Maida Vale)

  • Level 42

    Sandstorm

    • Polydor.

  • Nina Simone

    My Baby Just Cares For Me

  • Sivuca

    Ain't No Sunshine

    • Soul Jazz Records.

Broadcast

  • Sat 27 Dec 202515:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music