Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson's Marathon Run & Jazz Jukebox
Fundraising for Steve Reid Foundation
Story
Yes, I’m in! I'm running the London Marathon and doing a live broadcast from the Brownswood Basement straight after.
It's true, a pain down my left leg hasn’t quite disappeared since the half a few weeks ago but...f**k it…I missed it last year and can’t blow out again.
It's the best feeling in the world jogging/running/walking through the great city as the first hints of summer draw in. People holding pints outside pubs in Bermondsey encouraging you at 11 am. Brass bands and gospel choirs and sound systems. It's an incredible adventure and I’m really looking forward to it. I was dreaming of a sub 4 in January, but you know what, it ain’t gonna happen! Just enjoy the day and relax GP.
This year, I'm asking for your support in a different way. I’ll be presenting a special radio show straight after the marathon on Sunday, 22 April, hopefully from around 4pm - the Marathon Jazz Jukebox live from the Brownswood Basement (wrldwd.fm/jazzjukebox) - where you can pick a tune that I find inside the house and play for you. You just have to pay for the play! The idea being that I dj for as long as I run, so hopefully no more than 5 hours!
- Regular jazz tracks cost £5
- The rarer tracks on independent labels - £10
- Any Steve Reid featured track will be extra - £20
- If you want me to play the original acetate of Terry Callier’s never released Cadet double album you have to pay premium - £50/ track. Not necessarily jazz but psychedelic soul with strings and horns will get in!
I’m doing jazz as it's the only music which is half organised in the house - most of my jazz is there. Although the cds and sevens are in various other locations but I should have enough. No cheeky YouTube plays or digitals… strictly vinyl.
All the money will go to the Steve Reid Foundation. We’ve helped musicians like George Cables and Arthur Blythe with their medical bills, and have also worked with PRS in a mentor and grant programme, the InNOVAtion Award, that's supported amazing talents like Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd.
You’ll get more updates during the week, but you can start making donations and posting your track requests on the JustGiving page now, giving me a head start to prepare. We'll have a camera inside Brownswood so you can see me rummaging for the tunes on the day… and laugh at the chaos of my filing system!
My runner number is 22879 and you can follow my journey on the day online.
Let's do it!