Get set for theJazz on radio

The owners of Classic FM have revealed the name and launch date of their new nationwide jazz station to be broadcast on digital radio and TV.

theJazz will go on air at 9am on Christmas Day on DAB, Sky Digital and ntl:telewest digital cable TV.

Mindful of the heated debate as to what jazz is, radio group GCap has launched a website at www.myspace.com/talkaboutjazz inviting people to share their views on this issue.

They're promising a station "playing nothing but credible, authentic jazz in its many forms - whether that be bebop, swing, cool jazz, trad, blues, soul-jazz, modern jazz or smooth/fusion."

Names who've signed up to support the station as "friends" of its myspace site include Herbie Hancock, Julian Joseph, Ron Carter, Madeleine Peyroux, The Vortex, Jazz Times and Jazzwise magazines and, er, Beyonce...