Last week Paul McCartney gave Jamie Cullum a very special, in-depth interview about his brand new album ‘Kisses on the Bottom’ and his love of jazz.

Paul talked to Jamie about the role jazz has played in his life, from growing up listening to his father’s jazz band to their mutual love of Fats Waller; he also reflects on his days with The Beatles, from his and John Lennon’s shared love of composers such as Gershwin and Cole Porter, to how jazz informed the way The Beatles approached their compositions.

Paul also talks with Jamie about his current album of jazz standards and original compositions ‘Kisses On The Bottom’, recorded at the world-famous Capitol Record studios in Los Angeles. We hear how the album came together, from the initial inspiration to the great collaborations, what it was like working with Diana Krall and producer Tommy LiPuma, and how his vocal style on the album was influenced by Chet Baker.

This very special interview will be aired on Jamie’s show on BBC Radio 2 next Tuesday, 7 February at 7pm. Don’t miss it!

To read more on Paul McCartney’s website click here >

To go to Jamie’s BBC Radio 2 homepage click here >

Paul has just left BBC Radio 1 after more than 10 years to join us as Editor of Sound, Digital & Production and will be starting in February.

Paul’s main role will be to oversee the quality of Folded Wing’s full output, as well as managing all digital projects and leading staff.

As a senior radio producer and visualisation expert at stations such as Kiss 100 FM and BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and 6Music Paul has won several Sony Awards including Gold for Radio 1‘s Bobby & Nihal show.

Most recently, Paul won the BBC’s Best Technical Sound of 2011 Award for his documentary on the Burning Man Festival.

Welcome to the Folded Wing family Paul.

I hope you had a nice break and are feeling rested.

We’re starting 2012 off with a bang with our next BBC documentary ‘Why We Make Music’ to be broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Monday, 16th January at 9pm.

In ‘Why We Make Music’ Daniel P Carter looks at the reasons why successful artists do what they do. Is it self-expression, or the fact that music has helped them avoid bad situations in life, or even that it allows them to tap into something spiritual? Daniel meets a variety of musicians and finds out why they make music, and why music can be such a powerful force in people’s lives.

Not to be missed!

We’ve also got 6 more BBC documentaries scheduled for 2012, including a 2 part ‘Jazz at the Movies’ series on BBC Radio 2 presented by Jamie Cullum.

Watch this space for more details.

As part of Radio 2’s Dance Season, Gloria puts on her dancing shoes and explores how the rhythm and movement of the dancefloor has been central to the success of Latin music. Mambo, tango, salsa, she defies you to keep still. The show features the music of Oscar d’Leon, Los Lobos, Cachao and Herb Alpert.

All the episodes of the ‘Gloria Estefan’s Latin Beat’ series are stacked on the BBC iPlayer so anyone anywhere in the world can listen again to any of the programmes until 22 December (a week after the last show has aired).

To go to Gloria’s BBC Radio 2 homepage click here >

To listen to all the episodes on the iPlayer click here >

Kate said she became a fan of Jamie Cullum’s BBC Radio 2 show last year after switching on her radio one evening to hear Jamie interviewing Clint Eastwood, and “immediately loved his warm presentation style”. Kate’s record label EMI then contacted Jamie and asked if we could make the special syndicated EPK show for the launch of her new album.

In a rare and intimate interview Kate talked to Jamie about the concept behind ’50 Words For Snow’ and the recording of the album with guest collaborators Stephen Fry, Steve Gadd and her son Albert. Kate and Jamie also discussed another of Kate’s collaborators on the album, Elton John, and how they both have pictures of Elton on their pianos!

We also got a great interview with Kate for Jamie’s BBC Radio 2 show in which Kate and Jamie speak about the jazz they love, their different approaches to composition, and their mutual love of Billie Holiday and Steely Dan.

Kate’s interview is on the Jamie Cullum show tonight on BBC Radio 2 at 7pm. Don’t miss it!

To read about Kate Bush on Jamie’s show click here >

On Monday, 5th December at 10pm our ‘Swinging at the Savoy’ documentary launches BBC Radio 2’s special Dance season.

Running throughout December the season of shows celebrates ‘Dance’ in all its forms and includes three Folded Wing programmes.

As well as ‘Swinging at the Savoy’, in which Len Goodman celebrates swing dance, from the Savoy Ballroom in 1930s Harlem to its modern day renaissance, the season also includes episode 6 of our ‘Gloria Estefan’s Latin Beat’ series on Thursday, 8^th December at 11pm. In this episode, Gloria puts on her dancing shoes and explores how the rhythm and movement of the dancefloor has been central the to the success of Latin music.

Finally, on Monday 19^th December at 10pm, you can catch our documentary ‘Super Troupers’, in which Arlene Phillips takes a look back at the rise and fall of the television dance troupes: the Beat Girls, Go Jos, Ruby Flipper, Legs and Co, Hot Gossip and the most famous of them all - Pan’s People.

BBC Radio 2’s Dance season also includes documentaries on stars like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, as well as programmes on Morris Dancing, Riverdance and the American Dance Marathons of the 1930s.

For ‘Gloria Estefan’s Latin Beat’ episodes 1-3 click here >

The second episode continues to focus on the music of Gloria’s homeland of Cuba.

We’ve had more great press about the series…

To read an article on Songlines.co.uk click here >

To read an article on CorrienteLatina.com click here >

We’ve also had some fantastic news. Radio 2 are ‘stacking’ all of the shows from the series on the BBC iPlayer. So all of the hour-long programmes will be available for anyone around the world to ‘Listen Again’ until 22 December (7 days after the last show has aired). This is the first time that Radio 2 have done this for a series, so very exciting!

To listen to Part 1 click here >

To listen to Part 2 click here >

Part 3 will be on BBC Radio 2 this Thursday at 11pm and includes an interview with the Puerto Rican singer, composer and virtuoso guitarist Jose Feliciano; as well as songs from Hector Lavoe, Gilberto Gil, Carlos Santana and Ricky Martin.

Don’t miss!

We’re very excited indeed about the launch this Thursday (3 November) of our ‘Gloria Estefan’s Latin Beat’ series on BBC Radio 2!

The 7 part Latin music series presented by Gloria Estefan kicks off at 11pm and the first episode features the music of Gloria’s homeland of Cuba, and also traces the early days of the Miami music scene.

The series continues on BBC Radio 2 every Thursday at 11pm (until 15 December) and it gives Gloria’s personal take on the Latin scene, featuring interviews with Latin stars such as Jose Feliciano and Sergio Mendes, amongst others.

We’ve had some fantastic press for the series, including:

‘Pick of the Week’ in the Radio Times, click here >

A lovely article in ‘Songlines’ magazine, click here >

And on the ‘Latinos in London’ website, click here >

To go to the BBC homepage for the series click here >

So don’t miss the first show at 11pm this Thursday on BBC Radio 2!

On 5^th August 2011 Folded Wing and Martyn Ware (Illustrious) hosted the  ‘ReAnimate’ event at the National Portrait Gallery, part of their Late Shift Extra series - a night of sensory stimulation exploring the body, movement and the senses.

To read more about the night click here >

To listen to the ReAnimate podcast click here >

This is the very first in the National Portrait Gallery’s Late Shift Extra series of podcasts.

Karen P has been shortlisted for the 2011 Women of the Future Awards in the ‘Arts, Media and Culture’ section!

The awards are now in their sixth year and their aim is to ‘unearth and recognise the inspirational stars of tomorrow’.

The awards ceremony takes place on 16th November at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.

Go on Karen!

To read more about the awards click here >

To see the 2011 shortlist click here >