He's leaving...
... and sometimes on a jet plane! Chris travels the world listening to jazz, and will be able to do more of that once he gives up his duties captaining the good ship 'Jazzbeat'.
Under Chris' direction, the show was one of the most requested jazz programmes on the BBC iPlayer.
Chris, a player himself, will however continue as the entrepreneur behind the Gumbles Jazz club nights, which are convened regularly in Stafford.
Chris said: "It's been a great joy to work on the programme. I've been constantly amazed and delighted by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the listeners - from all over the world! I'll miss you all..."
If you do fancy meeting up with Chris, he has a few gigs that he'd love to see you at and have a chat.
*Sun 27th Sept 2009 - Tea Junction, Hulme End, Staffordshire Peak District - 12-4pm - free admission - Chris is on sax, with Sara Colman (vocals), Al Gurr (keys). Bring the family and have a day out walking, cycling and listening to jazz!
*Fri 2nd Oct 2009 - Symphony Hall Foyer, Birmingham - 5.30pm - free admission - playing Chris's 'Tribute to Cannonball' with Neil Yates (trumpet), Dan Nicholls (piano), Zoltan Dekany (bass), Carl Hemmingsley (drums)
*Sat 3rd Oct 2009 - St-John's-in-the-Square, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AT - 2.30pm - £8/£5
Don't forget that you can also see the tracks Chris selected by going to his 'Playlists' page.
And you can still contact Chris at: Chris Gumbley c/o, BBC Radio, Cheapside, Hanley, Stoke on Trent. ST1 1JJ - and we will forward your letters.
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More about Chris
Chris is a Stafford boy who went off to Huddersfield School of Music, where he studied clarinet and piano.
"This is the best jazz show anywhere on BBC. Congratulations!"
Roger Nuttall, Birmingham
An eclectic musical outlook and adaptability in his playing has led to high profile work with The Temptations & Four Tops (U.K. Tours ’03 & ’05), Saxtet, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, English Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the Berkeley Salon Ensemble, as well as theatre, classical and jazz gigs.
Chris has a particular interest in jazz education and performance and runs his own courses in jazz and saxophone in the Midlands. Colleges and schools often call on his services in this field. He also runs a jazz club, Gumbles, in Stafford which attracts leading players from Britain and overseas. He directs the Stafford International Jazz Festival.
Currently, he teaches saxophone, jazz and composition at Birmingham Conservatoire of Music and is coach to the Staffordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. He combines all this with composition and freelance performing work.
Lately, Chris has earned national recognition for his educational music (mainly for wind) which has been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Saxtet, Spartan Press, Brasswind Publications, plus his own Gumbles Publications and appear on all the major national syllabuses.
