2-5-1 Simon Whiteside and Nicholas Tomalin

Simon & Nick discuss the Score to Mr Benn by Don Warren an Alias for Duncan Lamont
who for several decades Lamont worked as a freelance musician (on flute and clarinet as well as saxophone), based around Archer Street in Soho and playing in the surrounding jazz clubs. He often performed with British bands accompanying American vocalists, including Fred Astaire, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Marlene Dietrich, Peggy Lee and (for 19 seasons) with Frank Sinatra. He also played with touring bandleaders such as Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Henry Mancini. Lamont led his own band for 11 years. He worked on recording and performing projects with Kenny Wheeler for many decades.

For those who missed the original Mr Benn books and TV show (the former, published first In 1967, the latter aired between 1971 and 1972 before making several returns via reruns on the BBC), then the plot is also straight forward. Black suit and bowler hat-clad London professional Mr Benn leaves his house each episode, walks to a local fancy-dress shop, and chooses an outfit. An adventure then ensues, set in a world that reflects his outfit. Harking back to a glorious time in children's television - one that has latterly been remembered for its psychedelic edges and surrealist tendencies - Duncan Lamont's score was a perfect accompaniment to those mini odysseys. It's woozy, blissful and dreamy at times, then jaunty and upbeat the next moment, taking the form of brief but beautiful accidentals to set those senes.
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NicK and Simon Talk about the film
Born to Be Blue  a 2015  drama film directed, produced and written by Robert Budreau. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. ] The film is about American jazz musician Chet Baker, portrayed by Hawke.

Directed by | Robert Budreau
Written by | Robert Budreau
Produced by | Jennifer JonasRobert BudreauLeonard FarlingerJake Seal[1]
Starring | Ethan HawkeCarmen Ejogo
Cinematography | Steve Cosens
Edited by | David Freeman
Music by | David Braid Todor Kobakov Steve London




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Inspired by a post on Instagram, and the  standard stereotypical responses to the question " Dear 'people who don't like jazz' what don't you like about it?" posed by  Kira C Garcia  (follow her here)   Nick and Simon pondered the question. Look out for a blog on this from Simon.
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Jam sessions have been and continue to be at the heart of the jazz scene.  In this episode Simon and Nick briefly  discuss the history, culture and function of jam sessions in jazz.

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In this episode Nick leads the discussion on the subject of jazz and it's connection to the Civil Rights movement in the US

In this Episode we discuss Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues.

Wikipedia says

Mo' Better Blues is a 1990 American musical comedy-drama film starring Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee, who also wrote, produced, and directed.[1] It follows a period in the life of fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (played by Washington) as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing both his relationships and his playing career. The film focuses on themes of friendship, loyalty, honesty, cause-and-effect, and ultimately salvation. It features the music of the Branford Marsalis quartet and Terence Blanchard on trumpet. The film was released five months after the death of Robin Harris and is dedicated to his memory, being his final acting role.