TODAY'S jazz enthusiast can find many hours of his favourite music on the airwaves, especially on the internet, but it was not always so. In the 1930's the dance bands of such as Ambrose and Henry Hall could frequently be heard on the B.B.C, but little genuine jazz. Mr. Don McPherson, in his talk 'Radio Jazz', told us that the war and Harry Parry changed all that. He said that the powers that be felt that swing music would help to uplift the nation's spirits, and the Radio Times said that there was a "rage for jazz and hot swing music".

Don told us that Harry Parry, a clarinettist in the Benny Goodman mould, was the man who helped to build a radio public for British jazz. He formed the Radio Rhythm Club Sextet and from May 1941 began to broadcast regularly on the B.B.C. Don played a couple of tracks by Parry, It Don't Count and I'm Young and Foolish, which gave us the chance not only to hear the leader's playing, but also that of the band's pianist George Shearing, who later was to gain fame in U.S.A.

In the post-war period the Radio Rhythm Club metamorphosed into Jazz Club which, broadcasting on the B.B.C.'s Light Programme, was one of the few outlets for British jazzmen to be heard on the radio. For the rest of the evening Don delved into the archives of the B.B.C. and pulled out many fine broadcasts by the cream of British jazz players.

The leading trumpeter of the 1950's onward was Kenny Baker, who put together a group for broadcasting called Kenny Baker's Dozen, featuring many of the top U.K. jazz musicians. From a 1956 broadcast we heard Kenny's faultless technique as he soared away on Boo Dah and Progressive Gavotte ably supported by trombonist Keith Christie and vibist Bill Le Sage. Kenny also played powerfully on two Basie charts Swingin' The Blues and the moody Softly With Feeling.

Over many years British jazz split into two camps, the Traditionalists and the Modernists. Don reflected this division in his selection of broadcasts. Thus we heard groups such as those of Pat Halcox, Sammy Rimmington, Alan Elsdon, Sandy Brown and Al Fairweather playing in an older style while Johnny Dankworth, Ronnie Scott, Jimmy Deucher, Harry South and Tubby Hayes reflected a more modern approach to the music.

Sandy Brown was outstanding on such diverse tunes as Sweet Georgia Brown and A Walk On The Wild Side. While tenorist Danny Moss shone on the Dankworth Big Band's Double Feature and Joe Harriot's alto playing caught the attention on the Harry South Band's Southern Horizons and I Want To Be Happy.

There was a nice trumpet solo from Alan Elsdon on Papa Dip and another one from Pat Halcox on Exactly Like You. And Tubby Hayes almost overwhelmed us with his dazzling technique and multitude of notes on Del Sasser. John Barnes' relaxed baritone and Roy Williams's smooth trombone were the highlights of People Will Say We Are In Love and pianist Stan Tracey immortalised his porridge with Lumpy. While Take The A Train was a tour de force for clarinettist Sammy Rimmington.

Don concluded a most enjoyable recital with Honeysuckle Rose played by visiting veteran American trumpeter Yank Lawson very well supported by Keith Ingham and Danny Moss. HI