Main content

Things Called Jazz That Are Not Jazz

4 Extra Debut. Russell Finch asks why so many random non-Jazz things, from garlic to fungicide, are called ‘Jazz’. From 2015.

There's a Jazz apple, Jazz aftershave, Jazz car, Jazz spreadsheet software, even a range of non-alcoholic beer called Jazz.

Why are so many things called Jazz that are not Jazz?

Russell Finch - documentary maker and failed jazz musician - has an unusual hobby. He collects examples of Things Called Jazz That Are Not Jazz.

There are more than you’d think.

The UK intellectual property office lists over 290 trademarks for things called jazz - everything from jazz garlic to jazz wigs to a jazz wettable powder biofungicide. Russell has been documenting some of his stranger discoveries on a blog. He insists it almost went viral once.

But it’s made him curious why are so many completely unrelated objects named after this one music genre? Even more mysterious, why are they named after a type of music that - it pains him to admit - not many people actually like?

Along the way he finds out the surprising origins of the word, the reason some musicians find it offensive, and why jazz is not a good name for food.

With:

* Comedian, Stewart Lee
* Singer, Gwyneth Herbert
* Musician, Nicholas Payton.

Producers: Peggy Sutton and Russell Finch

A Somethin’ Else production for ±«Óãtv Radio 4 first broadcast in August 2016.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 00:30

Broadcasts

  • Tue 30 Aug 2016 11:30
  • Sat 11 Mar 2017 15:30
  • Tuesday 10:30
  • Tuesday 16:30
  • Yesterday 00:30

Featured in...

Seriously...

Seriously...

Discover more seriously interesting radio documentaries.