Getting to know: Tony Minvielle
Learn more about Tony Minvielle, who will be presenting a brand new show on Sundays from 10am
Last updated 30th Mar 2021
Before Tony Minvielle's brand new show on Jazz FM - which starts Sunday 4th April from 10am - we wanted to dig a little deeper to find out a bit more about what we can expect about the show, what music excites him and some of the standout moments from his career-to-date.
Tell us about your new show on Jazz FM, what can we expect?
I hope to bring to this new time slot the same unique energy that was the hallmark of my previous one. There’ll be plenty of new innovative music from international and homegrown artists on the soul, neo-soul and jazz tip, particularly from the US where I was based for a while. There’ll be some unexpected vintage gems as I pay respect to artists who made this music come alive for me as I was growing up. There’ll also be some insightful chat from some special established names and a few on the way up. All in all, I expect to bring all this and that ‘certain something’ to hopefully make Sundays a really, really, exceptional listen.
What excites you about the music you play?
The joy of hearing a piece of music for the first time in which you can completely immerse yourself because it is that good and then the double joy of being able to share that same music with your listeners. That’s what really excites me about the music I play.
What drew you to broadcasting in the first place?
I started working part-time in a south London record shop in my early teens and I got inspired by the many DJs and broadcasters who used to come in to buy music. This carried on into my student life where I got the bug for playing music to an audience live and on-air. The culmination of this was sharing a stage with John Peel whilst I was still a student and thinking I want to do what he does.
What has been the most pivotal or most memorable moment of your career to date?
There have been so many but spending time with the legendary Curtis Mayfield at his home in Atlanta to write a piece about him for ‘Straight No Chaser’ magazine and then soaking up all the wisdom that he had to give is right up there. The time I spent living in that fantastic city and the incredible people I became friends with whilst there effectively changed my life for the good and gave me the focus to do what I do now.
Who is the most memorable artist you have met? Do you have any particular moments which stand out?
Getting drunk with George Benson on Chardonnay to make sure I got a good interview (his idea), watching a young Grammy-nominated Mahalia (the daughter of a close friend) perform at our wedding anniversary party in a marquee in our back garden and then a few years later watching her perform to 60,000 people at Love Supreme. Spending time with Terrace Martin at his studio in LA where he co-produced Kendrick Lamar's ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ Grammy winner, or being called out by the fantastic Moonchild as one of the first broadcasters to break their music in 2012. There are so many to choose from.
What have been some of your standout gigs from over the years?
Chick Corea at Love Supreme
Chic at Hammersmith Odeon
Funkadelic at Hammersmith Odeon
Moonchild at Fonda Theatre Hollywood CA
Tortured Soul at the Big Chill
Jimmy Smith at Media One Atlanta
Pete Escovado at Atlanta Jazz Fest
Gil Scott Heron at Mosquito Coast
Curtis Mayfield at Leicester Poly
Can you name your top record(s) of all-time?
That changes from week to week but for the moment:
Joe Henderson – Mode For Joe
Clare Fischer - Salsa Picante
Patrice Rushen – Patrice
Curtis Mayfield – Curtis
Michael Franks – The Art of Tea
Mark Murphy - Sings
Which artists are you excited about at the moment?
Ego Ella May, Katalyst and The Voices of Creation
When can I hear Tony Minvielle on Jazz FM?
Tony Minvielle's new show will be broadcast from 10am until 1pm ever Sunday from the 4th of April 2021.