R2OK!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Not sure if any BBC official statements have been announced, but seems the BBC Big Band or its radio slot is heading for the chop or partial decapitation

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/09/widespread-reports-of-axing-of-bbc.html

So, another petition, and this one is already significantly contributed to

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/jeff-smith-head-of-music-bbc-radio-2-stop-the-cuts-affecting-the-bbc-big-band
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John W

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

The rot which has been steadily setting into Radio 2 over the years is accelerating apace. The appalling treatment of Malcolm Laycock a few years ago, the dropping of Alan Titchmarsh's Melodies For You, the imminent departure of Russell Davies from Sunday nights, etc. All very depressing ... and to top it all, the sad death of David Jacobs.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Eileen you should try listening to Alan Titchmarch on Saturday mornings on Classic FM

He's really good - IMHO far better than he ever was on R2 and he plays music which is very listenable and which I'm sure you would enjoy Very Happy

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Thanks for that Ruddles, I'm in tomorrow morning and will give it a whirl.

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I enjoy his show on Classic FM too, he's a good presenter who is pleasant and nice to listen to.

I quite like Laurence Llewellyn Bowen's show as well and John Suchet in the mornings.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

It's not quite for me Ruddles. It's OK as background music but I much preferred his Radio 2 show in which there was only a light sprinkling of classical pieces and most of the programme was devoted (as I'm sure you remember) to a huge variety of different types of tracks including light music (a la Coates, Farnon etc), film & show tunes, comedy numbers, operettas like G&S & Novello, palatable jazz, military bands, etc etc. i.e. things I would actively listen to rather than just have on.

Thanks anyway but I'll give it a miss in future.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Fair enough Eileen - Alan's a great presenter but I suppose we're coming at it from two different perspectives

I tend to enjoy pop and rock music and also classical - rather like one of my all time heroes - the late great Alan 'Fluff' Freeman - but not especially the stuff in between which one might loosely class as 'middle of the road' music whereas for you it's probably the opposite way round

Glad you gave it a go though Smile

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

... however I was delighted to hear the music which used to be played at the end of Listen With Mother! It took me right back to my school holidays when my toddler brother used to listen to it (with mother and big sister Smile

) He's ... er ... 60 now.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:33 pm Post subject:

Just noticed that tonight's Big Band Special is the last one ever Sad

There seems to have been a cull of this sort of show lately, Russell Davies finishes on Sunday and numerous other "proper music" shows getting the chop over recent months.

Depressing Mad

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MiS

Andy W · Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 140 Location: France

For anyone who recalls the early Big Band Special shows with Sheila Tracy (and I'm sure John will appreciate this) I've uploaded the 500th edition from 1990:

http://andywalmsley.blogspot.fr/2013/09/big-band-blues.html