Cheltenham Jazz Festival to broadcast Jazz 625 on BBC TV live!

The iconic 1960's BBC show Jazz 625 is returning for one night only on BBC Four broadcasting live from Cheltenham Jazz Festival where jazz and TV history will be made. 

Featuring a house band - led by pianist Robert Mitchell - with special guests including Gregory Porter, Joshua Redman, Jean Toussaint, Shirley Tetteh and Jacqui Dankworth as well as an exclusive performance showing from Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts in a quartet with saxophonist Scott Hamilton and an interview with Dame Cleo Laine that reflects on her performance on a classic edition of Jazz 625.

From 1964 to 1966 Jazz 625 broadcast on BBC 2 featuring classic performances from the likes of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Ronnie Scott and Dave Brubeck. The one-night Jazz revival show will feature selections from the archive and live music from the house band, with guests, paying tribute to those who performed in the original series.

The programme will be presented by Andi Oliver and will also include interviews and features with some of those who appeared and worked on the original Jazz 625 and those who have been influenced by the series and the vintage jazz era. In tribute to the original series, the programme will be broadcast in black and white - the first live black and white BBC TV show since 1974!

The show will have an audience – to request a ticket on a first come, first served basis, please visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz625 Terms and conditions apply. A display celebrating Jazz 625 will also be running at Parabola Arts Centre Friday to Sunday during the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Jazz 625 will be broadcast live on BBC Four at 9pm on Friday 3rd May