ABSTRACT
“Jazz on Early Television” covers the early days of jazz programming on Portuguese television. It examines the production side from various angles and the connections between this new medium and Lisbon’s live night-time scene. Jazz programmes were initially produced under the aegis of RTP’s Classical Music services alongside symphonic and chamber music concerts, operas and ballet. There were no regular jazz programmes at the outset, so jazz output was limited. Nonetheless, Portuguese viewers were introduced to the Lisbon jazz scene and had sporadic exposure to international jazz artists – such as the Pierre Cornevin Quartet – via televised performances. With his strong connection with the local jazz scene, assistant music producer Jorge Veloso produced the first series of dedicated television jazz programmes; billed as Vinte Minutos de Jazz, these featured Portuguese amateur musicians.
