CHILLI JAZZ RADIO WEEKLY SHOW NEWS

RECORD OF THE WEEK

Richard Shelton: Shelton Swings Sinatra

with the Sid Lawrence Orchestra

A Master Interpreter of Sinatra

This week we shine the spotlight on Richard Shelton, the multi‑award‑winning British vocalist celebrated worldwide as the leading dramatic interpreter of Frank Sinatra. His brand‑new album, Shelton Swings Sinatra, recorded with the legendary Sid Lawrence Orchestra, arrives on 8th August — and it’s a knockout tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes delivered with class, swing and unmistakable style.

Shelton’s ability to capture Sinatra’s tone, phrasing and emotional fire has earned him rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, along with major awards for his acclaimed stage production Sinatra: RAW. Now, with the Sid Lawrence Orchestra behind him, he brings that same authenticity and energy to a fresh set of swinging arrangements that celebrate the timeless sound of the Great American Songbook.

A world‑class performer keeping Sinatra’s legacy vibrant for modern listeners — Richard Shelton is our Record of the Week.

JAZZ GEMS

WITH TOM STEVENS

MONDAY'S 11.00PM

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BIG BANDS & JAZZ

Dr. Ian Darrington MBE presents ‘Jazz Notes Jazz Conversations & More’

Tuesday's 10.00pm

Ian in Conversation with Nick Kellie – Beyond Technique: A Guitarist Shaping Modern Jazz

Nick Kellie is an internationally acclaimed guitarist who has toured the world with artists including chart‑toppers The Three Degrees and Grammy winner Frank Gambale. His debut album For A Brother caught the attention of Steve Vai, who personally signed and released it on his Digital Nations label.

A BBC Radio 2 live session in 2005 earned Nick the BBC Big Band Jazz Awards’ John Dankworth Trophy, recognising him as one of the UK’s outstanding young soloists. Alongside touring globally with Gambale, Nick teaches, delivers masterclasses, and endorses Morley pedals and Elixir strings.

STAR-SPANGLED RADIO HOUR

Wednesday 12th August 5pm

Friday 5pm, Sunday 12pm

THIS WEEK

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra: The Sound That Defined an Era

A Versatile Musician with a Lasting Sound

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, formed in 1938, became one of the most iconic swing dance bands of the big‑band era. Built around Miller’s signature arrangement — a warm, velvety clarinet lead carried over a tightly blended saxophone section — the orchestra created a sound instantly recognisable and endlessly imitated. It was smooth, precise and irresistibly danceable, a style that propelled the band to national fame and made Miller one of the most successful bandleaders of the early 1940s.

Their recordings, from In the Mood and Moonlight Serenade to Chattanooga Choo Choo, captured the optimism, energy and sentimentality of pre‑war America. Beyond chart success, the orchestra’s music became woven into the cultural fabric of the time, accompanying radio broadcasts, film appearances and wartime morale efforts.

This programme celebrates the artistry and innovation of Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, exploring the distinctive sound world they created and the enduring legacy they left behind.

THE JAZZ SET

WITH TOM STEVENS

Wednesday's 8.00pm

NOT TO BE MISSED DRIVING HOME WITH TOM

Thursday's 5pm

The Michele Monro Podcast

Thursday 6th August

The first Thursday of every month 7pm -8pm

Michele Monro talks about her father the legendary singer Matt Monro.

TODD'S TURNTABLE

THURSDAY 13th August 8PM

FRIDAY 2AM & 7PM, SUNDAY 4PM,

Do not miss the brilliant Tod Gordon and his themed shows

THIS WEEK

THE BILLIE HOLIDAY SONG BOOK

The Songs She Wrote, The Life They Revealed

Billie Holiday wrote or co‑wrote around twenty songs during her career, a modest number compared with many of her contemporaries. Yet the impact of those compositions is anything but small. Although she is celebrated primarily as a peerless interpreter of other writers’ work, Holiday’s own songs — God Bless the Child, Don’t Explain, Fine and Mellow — have become enduring jazz standards, each carrying the emotional fingerprints of her turbulent life. They reveal a writer of striking candour, someone who channelled vulnerability, resilience and lived experience into music that still resonates with rare intimacy.

This programme brings together a curated selection of Holiday’s self‑penned songs, performed both in her own unmistakable voice and in recordings by other artists who took up her material. It also highlights compositions she contributed to but never recorded herself, offering a fuller picture of her creative legacy. Together, these tracks illuminate the lesser‑known side of Billie Holiday: not just the incomparable singer, but the songwriter who transformed personal truth into timeless jazz.

The Big Band Heat

WITH TOM STEVENS

NOT TO BE MISSED !!!!

Saturday's at 2.00pm

Also Sunday 8pm & Monday 2pm

25 Years of Phatness Celebrating Gordon Goodwin’s Legendary Band with Tom Stevens and special guest Vangie Gunn-Goodwin

In this tribute programme, Tom Stevens and Vangie Goodwin, Gordon’s wife, join the celebration to reflect on the music, the legacy and the lasting impact of the Big Phat Band.

Join us for a special radio celebration marking 25 years of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band — one of the most exciting and inventive large jazz ensembles of our time.

Led by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer, arranger and musician Gordon Goodwin, the Big Phat Band has brought the big band tradition into the modern era with a bold sound that blends swing, Latin, blues, classical, rock, funk and more.

Featuring some of Los Angeles’ finest players, the band has earned critical acclaim, Grammy nominations and a devoted following for its high-energy performances, dazzling arrangements and unmistakable musical personality.

Vangie Gunn-Goodwin

Vangie Gunn-Goodwin is a highly respected Southern California session singer, vocal contractor and longtime voice with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Her career includes work on major film, television and game projects, with credits connected to productions such as Star Wars: Rogue One, Zootopia, Happy Feet, Jurassic World, Family Guy, World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. She has also contributed vocal work to major motion pictures including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Lightyear and Thor: Love and Thunder. Today, Vangie continues to celebrate Gordon Goodwin’s music and legacy through the Big Phat Band and the Big Phat Pod, sharing the stories, musicianship and spirit behind one of modern big band jazz’s most exciting ensembles.

Tom's brilliant show's are always packed with new music and interviews

NOW YOU HAS "JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ"

WITH JOHN PETERS

Saturday 15th 7pm

Sunday 7pm, Monday 7pm, Tuesday 12am, Wednesday 5am

John looks at Hot Lips Page – The Fiery Trumpet That Lit Up the Swing Era

Oran Thaddeus “Hot Lips” Page was one of the Swing Era’s most electrifying trumpeters — a Texas‑born powerhouse known for blistering solos, booming vocals, and unstoppable stage presence. After rising through Walter Page’s Blue Devils and Bennie Moten’s band, he became a standout with Count Basie and later recorded widely with Artie Shaw, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Pearl Bailey.

Influenced by Louis Armstrong but unmistakably his own force, Page led bands, toured internationally, and helped shape early rhythm and blues. Nicknamed “Mr. After Hours,” he was the heartbeat of countless late‑night jam sessions, leaving a legacy of fire, swing, and fearless improvisation.

Saturday 15th August 8pm

Sunday 2pm Monday 4am, Tuesday 6pm

Join David Harding-Price tonight for his fabulous Blue's Show

Tonight David Aird

STILL GOT A SENSE OF TUMOUR: Six Strings and a Pulse Turns Diagnosis Into Music

Rock musician David Aird, a 55‑year‑old builder from Willesden Green, has channelled the side effects of his brain tumour into a powerful new album. Performing as Six Strings and a Pulse, Aird’s rock‑and‑blues release Still Got A Sense Of Tumour blends sharp humour with raw honesty to raise awareness of the condition.

“The music broke out of me and I felt compelled to record it,” he says.

The album captures the emotional turbulence of his diagnosis — frustration, clarity, fatigue, and resilience — all driven by guitar lines that refuse to give in. With this project, Aird transforms a personal battle into a message of strength, creativity, and survival.

THE SUNDAY REWIND - ALL THE WEEKS SHOWS IN ONE DAY

MEET THE PRESENTERS