Jazz Score

There’s no shortage of music quizzes on the radio from the current all out pop variety of PopMaster and Ten to the Top and the former Pop Score (1972-92) to the general music quiz ‘from Bach to the Beatles’ of Counterpoint. But for pure jazz only content there was Jazz Score.

Jazz Score was heard on BBC Radio 2 over nineteen series spanning 1981 to 1997. As I’ve written before, though “ostensibly a music quiz it effectively allowed a load of jazzers to reminisce and entertain the audience with their anecdotes”.

The idea for the programme came from clarinettist Roy Pellet, a one-time member of the Clyde Valley Stompers. It was Roy that researched and wrote the questions. He told the Radio Times: “I spent 20 years travelling with jazz musicians and roaring with laughter at their stories. Each question is tailored to provoke a particular memory.”

In charge of production for most of the run was light entertainment producer, and part-time jazz trombone player, Richard Willcox. Chairing virtually every edition was Benny Green who reckoned that “a lot of people are listening just for the jokes. But don’t be fooled, underneath the banter there’s lots of knowledge”. Most often taking a spot on the panel and providing that banter were Humphrey Lyttelton, Ronnie Scott, George Melly and Acker Bilk.

Over 70 guests, mostly jazz performers, appeared though it often sounded like a gentlemen-only club, at least until later (and independently produced by Unique) series. Early series would often have special jazz enthusiast guests such as Eric Sykes, Kingsley Amis or Barry Cryer. To make everyone feel at home the shows were mostly recorded at Ronnie Scott’s on Frith Street or the 100 Club on Oxford Street.

I’ve uploaded a couple of editions of Jazz Score on YouTube. First from the start of the sixth series is a programme that was broadcast on Saturday 7 September 1985. Joining Benny are Humph, Acker, Chris Barber and Alan Elsdon.

Two years later the eighth series kicked off with this edition recorded in 1986 but broadcast in April 1987 (Radio Times billing above) just a few weeks after the death of special guest Buddy Rich. Also taking part are Barney Kessell, Ronnie Scott and George Melly.       

 

Jazz Score series details

Chaired by Benny Green except Shaw Taylor (s01e04/5), Peter Clayton (s02e05-7, s04e11-12) and Humphrey Lyttelton (s05e01-06),

The pilot episode was recorded in October 1980 and was broadcast at the start of series 1.  

Series 1: 3 October 1981 to 28 November 1981 (9 editions)

Special guests Eric Sykes, Deryck Guyler, Barry Took, Kingsley Amis, Jack Brymer, Barry Foster, Barry Cryer, Roy Castle and Mike Hailwood

Series 2: 17 April to 3 July 1982 (12)

Special guests: Arthur Davidson. Jimmy Edwards, Barry Fantoni and Philip Jones

Series 3: 26 March to 11 June 1983 (12)

Series 4: 31 December 1983 to 17 March 1984 (12)

Series 5: 6 October to 22 December 1984 (12)

Series 6: 7 September to 30 November 1985 (12) (not 28 Sept due to boxing coverage)

Special guests: Charlie Byrd, Don Lanphere, Slim Gaillard

Series 7: 30 March to 29 June 1986 (13)

Special guests: James Moody

Series 8: 26 April to 28 June 1987 (10)

Special guests: Buddy Rich and Barney Kessell

Series 9: 14 December 1987 to 22 February 1988 (12) (not 28 December)

Series 10: 8 November 1988 to 7 February 1989 (14)

Series 11: 20 November 1989 to 19 February 1990 (14)

Series 12: 2 February to 20 April 1991 (12)

Series 13: 9 November to 28 December 1991 (8)

Series 14: 19 October to 7 December 1992 (8)

Series 15: 3 January to 14 February 1994 (7)

Series 16: 7 November 1994 to 26 December 1994(8)

Series 17: 17 July to 4 September 1995 (8)

Series 18: 10 June to 5 August 1996 (9)

Series 19: 22 July to 26 August 1997 (6)

Series 16 to 19 were produced by Unique. The BBC World Service broadcast selected repeats between 1988 and 1997.

Panellists: George Chisholm, Humphrey Lyttelton, Annie Ross, Ronnie Scott, Acker Bilk, George Melly, Jack Parnell, Peter Clayton, Digby Fairweather, Chris Barber, John Turner, Richard Clegg, Beryl Bryden, Alan Clare, Alex Welsh, Kenny Ball, Ian Christie, Andy Cooper, Alan Elsdon, John Barnes, Roger Bennett, Geoff Nicholas, Eddie Thompson, Jack Fallon, Herb Ellis, Peter Ind, Ian Carr, Slim Gaillard, Coleridge Goode, John Dankworth, Geoff Nichols, Al Cohn, Yank Lawson, Murdell Lowe, Dave Shepherd, Barney Kessell, Charlie Byrd, George Masso, Nat Gonella, Max Jones, Roger Horton, Monty Sunshine, Campbell Burnap, Major Holley, Bobby Rosengarden, Peter Appleyard, Dave Shepherd, Derek Smith, Dick Charlesworth, Pete King, Diz Disley, Bob Wilber, Kenny Baker, Eddie Harvey, Oliver Jones, Ken Rattenbury, Tommy Burton, Carol Kidd, Al Gay, Roy Williams, Alan Barnes, Sheila Tracy, Dick Hyman, Rob McConnell, Cleo Laine, Brian Priestley, Marion Montgomery, Stan Tracey, Alan Plater, Bruce Adams, Vic Lewis and Larry Adler. 

Finally the answer to the question posed in the opening photo of Benny Green is Bobby Hackett and Lionel Hampton.