I don’t normally listen to Radio 2 but by chance I heard an amazing programme called “When Charles met Wyclef” on Saturday. You can listen again and I’d say do it, just as soon as you’ve got a chance. The format’s simple: Charles Hazlewood, one of the UK’s most exciting conductors and a force for good in the often too-insular world of classical music, sits in a New York recording studio with Wyclef Jean and grills him on the Fugees, his inspirations and the future of hip hop. Wyclef is one of the best interviewees I’ve ever heard, with a natural talent for storytelling and an open-hearted honesty that seems to be all about his love for music. From time to time he picks up a guitar and illustrates his answers with song; the result is pure magic ear-candy.
Hazlewood’s had some good reviews for his weekly show on Radio 2 in the past but this documentary was really incredible, and demonstrates public service broadcasting – make that broadcasting – at its best.
This gave me a whole new perspective on the guy and his post-Fugees stuff – thanks Es x