Jazz Library

Alex Welsh was a fine traditional and mainstream trumpeter, who led one of Britain's best jazz groups from the 1950s to the 1980s. Digby Fairweather, who knew him well and inherited Welsh's cornet, joins Alyn Shipton to select the finest available recordings from the Welsh band's long career.

A one-time member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton is one of the most sought-after and versatile pianists in jazz. He joins Alyn Shipton to discuss records made under his own name, as well as work with Blakey, the Jazztet, Ron Carter and Lee Morgan.

Originally in folk-jazz group Lammas, leader of a regular band at London's Pizza Express and then recruited to join Chick Corea, Tim Garland is now one of Britain's best known jazz saxophonists. In this programme he joins Alyn Shipton to pick not only examples of his work in all those contexts, but also in orchestral settings, with his Lighthouse Trio, Acoustic Triangle, and his current touring band with Americans Joe Locke and Geoff Keezer, known as Storms / Nocturnes.

Barbados-born Harry Beckett was one of the most fiery and inventive trumpeters in British jazz, right up until his death in July this year. Chris Batchelor joins Alyn Shipton to look back at Beckett's recordings, and to pick his best performances. As well as a range of music from his own bands, the programme includes Beckett's work with Ian Carr, Mike Westbrook and Graham Collier.

Best known as the leader of the fusion bands Tempest and Colosseum, drummer Jon Hiseman's career in jazz covers almost all styles and genres. He talks to Alyn Shipton about a catalogue of recordings that includes free jazz trios with Mike Taylor, big bands, his own groups including Colosseum, and his work with his wife Barbara Thompson in Paraphernalia and the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble.

Phineas Newborn Jr. was one of the finest pianists in jazz history, but his short career was dogged by physical and mental illness and he is now a somewhat obscure figure. In the wake of several recent reissues of Newborn's work, Brian Priestley joins Alyn Shipton to pick the highlights and to reappraise this largely forgotten genius of the piano.

In an archive interview with Alyn Shipton and Geoffrey Smith, the late Johnny Griffin selects his favourite records.

Bobby Wellins joins Alyn Shipton at the Oxford Jazz Festival to select his key recordings.

The Glasgow-born saxophonist achieved stardom for his solo on Starless and Bible Black in Stan Tracey's Under Milk Wood. In conversation with Alyn Shipton at the Oxford Jazz Festival he discusses many other highlights from his recordings.

Composer and saxophonist John Altman joins Alyn Shipton to pick the best records by saxophonist Al Cohn. As well as his solos albums and his lengthy association with fellow tenorist Zoot Sims, the programme covers Cohn's work with Joe Newman and Freddie Green, and as an arranger for Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band.

Guitarist Mike Stern has been a major figure in jazz fusion throughout his career. In this programme he traces some of his principal associations and picks some of his own best recordings in conversation with Alyn Shipton at the Sage Gateshead, as part of the 2011 Jazz Festival there. The music ranges from his work with Miles Davis and the Brecker Brothers to his long association with saxophonist Bob Berg.