In a six-part series for Radio 2 Clare Teal, Britain's new jazz talent, takes a break from making music to recall the star performers she's always admired.

Each programme has a theme such as the weather, lonely hearts and relaxing pursuits. Clare looks at how famous songwriters treated each theme and how some of the great singers interpreted the results. Find out more about the programmes.

Humphrey Lyttelton was one of the first to recognise Clare Teal's talent by playing her debut album on his Radio 2 show Best of Jazz. Soon afterwards she was invited to sing on Michael Parkinson's TV show. Last year Clare was nominated in two categories at the BBC Jazz Awards, and this year she was nominated once again as Best Vocalist.

Find out more about Clare with the links below.

Programme details: one - two - three - four - five - six

Programe one - 'A Lovely Day?' (30 July)
Over the years the weather has fascinated songwriters, almost as much as the forecasters. Clare chooses some examples of how different performers approach a foggy day, sing in the rain, wallow in sunshine and create pictures of clouds in music. The results can vary as much as our climate and even Clare's opinions of them! Lena Horne, Noel Coward, Peggy Lee and Django Reinhardt are among those making the mercury rise and fall.

Programme two - 'Take It Easy' (6 August)
Relax with Clare as she takes a peep at how people spend their time off. Eartha Kitt likes a Lazy Afternoon, Phil Harris a fast game of poker, while Nat King Cole gets his kicks on America's Route 66. Right now, Clare is making the most of her own spare time before she sets off on another busy tour across the UK throughout October. Join her as Blossom Dearie, Bing Crosby, the Fifth Dimension and other star performers contribute classic songs on how to 'Take it Easy'.

Programme three - 'Family Favourites' (13 August)
In the world of entertainment, nepotism can pop up for the best of family reasons. The Andrews Sisters made an harmonious trio, the Mills Brothers imitated instruments to accompany themselves, and Frank Sinatra... well he made a record with his daughter Nancy. The results varied - sometimes they were excellent, sometimes indifferent, and sometimes they depended on the song. Did you know that Larry Hagman was the son of Mary Martin and that they once sang a duet called 'Get Out Those Old records'? In this programme Clare picks out more favourites of the families and completes the relevant identity cards.

Programme four - 'Colour My World' (20 August)
In Britain, the green leaves of summer will soon merge into the gold of autumn as the blue skies turn to grey. Colours relate to nature's moods as much as our own, and in this programme Clare looks at different colours reflected in music as she chooses more classic performances from star performers. We find Artie Shaw cloaked in deep purple, Mel Torme gazing at a 'blue moon' (in fact the second full moon in a single month), while Xavier Cugat paints a bewitching portrait of cool green eyes. Indigo, yellow and orange all take their positions in this musical spectrum.

Programme five - 'Around The World' (27 August)
The series is really flying as Clare takes it literally by charting the singers and the songs that have influenced her music, following them into some of the major cities of the world - plus an unexplored island or two.

Programme six - 'The Music Goes Round' (3 September)
Details to follow

Contact the show by E-mail for further information on the music played during the series.