BBC Radio 3’s ‘Round Midnight, the new five-nights-a-week show starts on Monday 1 April. Soweto Kinch is the presenter. Interview by Bruce Lindsay

‘Round Midnight, BBC Radio 3’s new late-night jazz show, produced by Folded Wing, begins its five-nights-a-week schedule on 1 April, making it the first BBC jazz radio show to go out every weekday. It will be broadcast, appropriately, between 11.30pm and 12.30am from Monday to Friday, and award-winning saxophonist, MC and composer Soweto Kinch will be ‘Round Midnight’s presenter. He spoke to London Jazz News about his new role on a show that will focus particularly on jazz from the UK.

When Soweto Kinch calls me on the phone, I remind him that we’re about to talk about ‘Round Midnight: “Great!” he replies, “That’s what I like to hear. I’m really excited about it.” His enthusiasm for the show is obvious throughout our conversation, especially regarding its emphasis on UK-based performers in what is an increasingly successful time for such acts, notably Ezra Collective’s 2023 Mercury Prize victory and the rise to prominence of a host of up-and-coming young artists.

Kinch wasn’t involved in the commissioning process for the show, which is being produced by Folded Wing, the company behind Jamie Cullum’s Radio 2 jazz show, Romesh Ranganathan’s For The Love of Hip-Hop and more: “It’s always hard to know about the behind the scenes machinations that lead to a show being commissioned,” he says, “I was asked to present the show after those decisions had been made.” He has presented shows on the BBC before, of course: “It’s not exactly my first rodeo,” as he puts it. He’s proud to have been asked to be a central part of ‘Round Midnight, a decision he views as a “personal affirmation” of his role in Britain’s increasingly vital jazz scene: “There’s such a breadth and diversity of expression within what we call jazz, it’s an exciting opportunity to showcase this diversity. I’m really excited about all the personal connections I have within this music. I’m always learning.”

Monday to Thursday, the show will be pre-recorded and will feature music from new and emerging performers as well as classic artists. On Fridays the show becomes ‘Round Midnight Jazz Club and will be devoted to playlists put together by guest artists, conversation and discussion, and monthly live studio sessions.

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The very first programme will be an interview with Nubya Garcia. Also during the first week will be a celebration of Evan Parker‘s 80th birthday. The first live session, on 5 April, features singer Zara McFarlane interpreting classic songs from Sarah Vaughan to mark the centenary of Vaughan’s birth. On 12 April, Radio 1Xtra presenter CassKidd will play and discuss some new music and some of the tracks that introduced him to jazz.

One way in which ‘Round Midnight will develop Kinch’s connections, and bring new musical voices to listeners, is via the BBC Introducing system by which undiscovered artists can upload their music to the BBC and, hopefully, gain local or even national radio exposure plus the chance of live gigs at various events and festivals. He has already encouraged artists to do this, via a short video on his Instagram account. Kinch stresses that BBC Introducing offers opportunities for artists who don’t have easy access to major centres of jazz such as London, Birmingham or Glasgow: “It’s certainly not something I had when I was coming up. It’s for musicians and artists who aren’t from the big conurbations. It’s about the music you’re making in Swansea, or Penzance, or John O’Groats, about ‘What are you saying musically?’ wherever you’re from.” Decisions about whose music gets played won’t be down to one individual. Kinch will have a say, but he stresses that the final decision will result from discussions involving the entire ‘Round Midnight team.

Like all BBC programmes, ‘Round Midnight will be available on BBC Sounds for listeners to enjoy at their leisure. Hopefully, the show will have a long and happy life as part of the BBC’s music programming. Kinch is already confident of its success and looks forward to the show having a long and happy life on Radio 3: “If it was up to me, ‘Round Midnight would be a permanent fixture in the radio calendar,” he says. With luck, he’ll get his wish.

‘Round Midnight premieres at 11.30pm on Monday 1 April. PROGRAMME HOMEPAGE