Bill Jenkin

I have been approached by a Nicolas Pillai who is keen to interview anyone who worked on BBC programmes that featured jazz between 1960 to 1969.

"…As well as the dedicated jazz programmes like “Jazz 625” and “Jazz Goes to College”, these might also include shows that occasionally featured jazz artists such as “Six Five Special” or drama, comedy or documentary that used jazz as accompaniment. If you know of production crew, musicians or audience members from that time who might be willing to talk…"

I can’t remember working on any jazz shows, I almost undoubtedly did but can’t remember.

I don’t really know anything about Nicolas except he is a Dr Nicolas Pillai and is a research fellow specialising in jazz and visual culture at Birmingham University. His email address is nicolas.pillai@bcu.ac.uk

I seem to remember some faces on sound who had an affinity with jazz.

Peter Neill

If I recall correctly, “Jazz 625” and “2Jazz goes to College” were both OB series, so perhaps the TelOBians can help?

Bill Jenkin

“Jazz at the Maltings” also comes to mind.

Graeme Wall

I remember working on a three part history of Jazz presented by Humphrey Littleton but that was around 1975.  Shot in TC6 with Crew 15 and Ian Gibb.

Unfortunately I can’t remember which bands, apart from Lyttleton’s own, were involved.  

Fun programme to work on though.

One of the other performers was Stephane Grappelli.

Keith Wicks

I worked at Broadcasting House, London, long ago and am interested in jazz, but I never worked on a jazz programme. However, former Radio Times photographer Don Smith would have some interesting things to say. He would surely have been present at many jazz recordings and broadcasts, and he would have already known many of the musicians as he was also the bass player for Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen. I think Don also used to arrange deps for absent band members, so he should have many useful contacts in his address book.

Pat Heigham

I replied to Nicolas’ original query, and was able to mention a couple of stories, working on “Ellington in Concert” and hovering in the wings at TVT for Woody Herman.

Pity that Terry Henebery’s PA, Janet Bone, is no longer with us.

Tony Briselden

Terry Henebery is alive and well and I spoke to him three or four weeks ago (from 24 August 2017) after I managed to get his contact info.