Your favourite Jazz programme will be back on air, bringing you the sixth series of Gateway to Jazz, commencing on Wednesday 2nd December at 7pm until 9pm.

As usual, Gateway to Jazz is brought to you by the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside and is introduced by yours truly, David Fenn.  In this series we can promise you lots of new features and above all, plenty of red hot music.

Programme one kicks off with a classic number, “Chimes Blues” featuring the Monty Sunshine/Ken Colyer/Chris Barber band. Then we feature lots of local talent like Heather Simmons, John China, Martin Guy, Hugh Rainey and a host of others.

We have a set, introducing Jazz from overseas, featuring bands and artistes from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Australia. Nest up, we feature spirituals and sacred songs from the world of Jazz and then we will turn our attention to Jazz in the charts from the 1920′s onwards with big names like Tommy Dorsey, Mildred Bailey, Jack Teagarden, Duke Ellington and the Clyde Valley Stompers.

During the programme we will take time out to pay tribute to Clinton Ford who sadly passed away in October. Ford began his show business career as a Butlin’s redcoat, he sung with the Merseysippi Jazz Band and for a short time sang with Kenny Ball and his Jazz men. He was a favourite with BBC producers and appeared many times on shows such as The Good Old Days, Stars and Garters and The Ken Dodd Show. His most popular recording was “Fandance Fanny” which is featured in the show.

All of this with up to date information about what’s going on in the local Jazz scene.