I presented Dinner Jazz at the old Jazz FM for 14 years and I'm delighted to be back. For me, Dinner Jazz is the perfect show for unwinding after a long day, or as an introduction to jazz for absolute beginners. I share the show with Sarah Ward who presents the show Sunday to Tuesday and then I'm here Wednesday to Friday.
Looking for my Dinner Jazz playlists? Visit the programme page.
I also present The Yamaha Sunday Jazz Jam - a guide to events happening all around the UK in the week ahead. I'll be featuring the pick of new and recent releases, and catching a chat with some of the personalities on the UK scene, plus occasional jazz dignitaries from overseas.
For Yamaha Jazz Jam playlists, visit the programme page.
You can also become a fan of Helen on Facebook.
Interview With Helen Mayhew
1. What’s your favourite Jazz FM programme and why?
Mike Chadwick’s Cutting Edge, a chance to catch up on the latest music from around the world.
2. What’s the first record you bought and where did you buy it?
Miles Davis’s ‘Kind of Blue’ from Beano’s second hand record shop in Croydon.
3. What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod/in your collection?
There are no embarrassing songs in my collection, I love all the music in it!
4. In your opinion, what's the greatest album of all time and why?
Miles Davis’s ‘Kind Of Blue’, again. It’s perfect from start to finish.
5. What’s the best live gig you have ever been to?
Stevie Wonder, live at Abbey Road Studios in London in 2005.
6. What’s your favourite live music venue and why?
I love the London clubs Pizza Express in Dean Street, and the 606 in Lots Road, Chelsea.
7. Jazz Is...
The best music, played by the best musicians.
8. In your opinion, who’s the most inspirational radio presenter of all time and why?
The late and much lamented Charlie Gillett, who inspired me both musically and personally.
9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment in radio?
There have been many, mostly stuff like making mistakes in interviews, or accidentally stopping the CD that I’m playing on air.
10. What’s your favourite film and why?
I love ‘American Graffiti’ for the soundtrack, and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.
11. Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
A handful of long-gone jazz greats for a good jazz gossip. Fats Waller, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker…
hi helen.ivejust discovered by sheer chance that youre back on jazz fm and im delighted about that.i listened to your shows on your last stint and was into jazz then but thanks to you and your superb shows im now totally obsessed with this music.thanks again helen.hope you are keeping well…….all the best,dave gardner
Last night (thursday) the song Que Reste-t-il was credited as being written by Jacques Brel. Not so, it was by Charles Trenet.
Hi! Helen enjoying the prog as usual .I hope you have a wonderful christmas and a very good New Year -Very best wishes Patricia x
Just listened to your Xmas eve gig … wow .. you always hit the spot. Your choice of music is so good it’s too much to bear not to e-mail this appreciation.
Keep doing what you do Helen, we need more of the likes of you !!
Just wanted to say, so glad you are back with Dinner Jazz. It was always the best program on jazz f.m.and If they hadn’t spent so much time arguing about what jazz was, maybe it would have succeeded commercially. Good luck with it. Jennifer Abbott,( Jonty Abbott’s widow, isn’t that a terrible word!)
I was a friend and disciple of Jonty in the Cambridge days . He wore a duffle coat and spent a lot of time in Soup Kitchen and at the Rex ballroom .
I was a terrible bass player but knew Colin Purbrook and Dick Heckstall
Smith , all gone alas. I recall he once acquired an American Officers Car that resembled an armoured vehicle . You had to drive without third gear . My mate Malcolm Warner told me that Jonty had died but he must have reached
his mid sevetnies as he had done his military service before Trinity.Did he ever mention a trip to Blackpool ? best wishes , tony
could you please let me know what the last piece of music Helen Mayhew played on Sunday (5th June’11)? I heard her mention the name Yusuf and the oud but didn’t catch the rest.
Thanks
Desmond
Hi Helen your smooth dinner jazzy selection is a pure delight which has me taken untill the hours of ten, pure niceness chill out vibes I just cant do without. I often reach for my mellow selection to massage my mind its so kind to hear and feel the mellow grooves as I kick of my shoes. Jazz fm your relay jazzy team is top of the class take a bow. The funky drummer Kevin Morgan Milton Keynes.