First comedy radio series planned for Bauer’s Jazz FM

Jazz FM will broadcast its first-ever comedy series in the run-up to Christmas this year.

The Cabinet of Jazz will air every Sunday evening from 17th October at 9pm for 10 weeks.

Based on the real-life run for president in 1964 by Dizzy Gillespie, the series will see self-confessed jazz nerd and occasional Jazz FM host, comedian Marcus Brigstocke ask a famous jazz fan or musician to suggest their cabinet of jazz musicians as they become US President for the week.

Recorded in front of a live audience at Pizza Express Jazz Clubs in Soho and Holborn, the 60-minute programme will feature a diverse cross section of famous jazz-heads, from actors, comedians, broadcasters, journalists, and musicians themselves, kicking off with journalist Jay Rayner, plus comedians Isy Suttie and Stewart Lee, actor Clarke Peters and musicians Zara MacFarlane and Julian Joseph

The Cabinet of Jazz marks Jazz FM’s fourth Audio Content Fund funded series and is produced by Loftus Media.

It also features a collaboration with jazz educators Tomorrow’s Warriors who have provided production support and live music for the events.

Jazz FM’s Content Director Nick Pitts – who also devised the series – said: “This idea has been rattling around in my head for more than ten years and it is brilliant that we have been able to turn it into reality. Loftus have created a perfect treatment and is has been exciting to see it come to life.

“Marcus is the perfect host and really allows him to bring his real inner geek to the surface and talk jazz with fellow nerds to much hilarity. The audiences have been brilliant, very interactive and it makes a great listen that adds to our arsenal of ever-growing creative ways to talk about jazz music.”

Cabinet of Jazz Host Marcus Brigstocke said of the series: “This is so much fun to make and to listen to. The guests/appointed Presidents have all surprised me; not only with their choices for Cabinet positions but with the well-argued and funny cases they make for each selection. The aim was always to give the listener a show that makes them laugh and then dash off to hear more music from these excellent artists and I really believe we’ve achieved that.”

Joanne Rowntree, MD of Loftus Media said: “It’s a real pleasure to team up with Jazz FM on this project, bringing our editorial expertise to help launch a new format. When we first heard the idea, it captured our entire team’s imagination; it’s such a playful way to explore jazz music, jazz stars and its fans. Marcus brings humour and warmth and listeners learn loads of interesting stuff too. For example, did you know that Elvin Jones had very specific synaesthesia where he would see particular colours when hearing a note; an F he would see as yellow, low D as purple! It’s a brilliant show to work on and we hope that the Jazz FM audience will love it as much as the live audiences have.”

Finally, Nick added: “This brings the curtain down on a tremendous set of programmes from across the year in this slot since January and has set the standard for what we commission and broadcast in 2022. It has proven to be a highly successful strategy in exposure for Jazz FM and a rather unique approach to creating compelling content on commercial radio.”