‘The Music That Made Me’ returns for a fourth series
Hosted by Nigel Williams
For a fourth time, Jazz FM’s landmark series ‘The Music That Made Me’ is back for a new run of programmes featuring a host of worldwide superstars as the acclaimed series returns to the UK’s only jazz, soul and blues radio station.
‘The Music That Made Me’ Series 4 explores a further seven key jazz figures who are instrumental to the genre. Each week they’ll present an in depth look into the most hidden corners of their lives and musical passions that in turn have made them the artists they are today.
This series will see conversations with legends from across the globe including Brazilian music star Sergio Mendes, Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander, African music giant Angelique Kidjo, US award winning artists Esperanza Spalding, Lonnie Liston Smith and Eric Bibb, alongside the home-grown bass talent of Mark King from Level 42
Between them, they have been nominated for an impressive 31 Grammy® Awards, with 11 wins.
In this season, Sergio Mendes casts his mind back to growing up in Niteroi (Rio) and his experiences during the birth of Bossa Nova and Eric Bibb speaks of a childhood surrounded by jazz stars and keeping a message in his music, while Angelique Kidjo says that global success in her music has enabled her to make real social change in Africa and Monty Alexander put his career down to a whole lot of luck and literally playing it by ear.
The programme will once again be hosted by Jazz FM’s breakfast show presenter Nigel Williams.
Of the return of the series, Nigel said: “I’m very proud to be hosting a forth series of MTMM. This format allows time for the artists to reveal their musical influences and enables us to see how they fit in to the larger musical landscape. All of the conversations are very relaxed and natural, which often leads to some fascinating personal stories!”
Jazz FM’s Content Director Nick Pitts adds: ’The Music That Made Me’ has become an annual series that we really look forward to creating. Once again, the chance to engage with the superstars of our music at a level they are not used to means that we in turn broadcast stand-out and never-before heard stories whilst learning which musicians and music have inspired them, making them the musicians they are today. And to return for a routh time with subjects as strong as the first series four years ago is a testament to the fact that they love to talk about their heritage, no matter where they are in their career”.
The previous three series of ‘The Music That Made Me’ featured revealing conversations with twenty one key musicians including Patrice Rushen, Nile Rodgers, Norah Jones, Gregory Porter, Candi Staton, George Benson, Pat Metheny and British jazz star Jamie Cullum. All of these episodes are available to listen to commercial-free on Jazz FM’s Premium platform.