On Live Jam, where every song played is the live version, tonight’s feature takes listeners from the epic live rock performances of Led Zeppelin to the avant-garde world of classical composition. Get the Led Out Live, airing every Wednesday night at 10PM EST, dedicates three straight hours to legendary Led Zeppelin concerts, bringing every note from history’s most iconic performances straight to your ears. But tonight, we also turn our attention to John Paul Jones’s newest foray into contemporary classical music, a project blending poetic themes with chamber instrumentation, showcasing the bassist and keyboardist’s wide-ranging artistry beyond rock.
Premiere Details
Jones’s new composition is a song cycle for the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, set to premiere on January 8, 2026, at London’s Wigmore Hall. The performance is part of the Britten Sinfonia’s 2025–2026 season, and will feature Connolly accompanied by classical pianist Joseph Middleton alongside the Britten Sinfonia ensemble. The piece is expected to combine intimate chamber textures with Jones’s signature ingenuity, highlighting the intersection of poetry, melody, and contemporary composition.
Composition and Themes
Written for a Pierrot ensemble—a chamber configuration including piano, flute (doubling piccolo), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), violin, and cello—the work showcases Jones’s facility with subtle orchestration and modern classical sensibilities. The song cycle draws upon four carefully selected poems: Her Kind, Pygmalion’s Bride, Morning Glory, and I Say. Each explores themes relating to women in society, reflecting on identity, power, and human experience. The poems come from both American and British poets, with Her Kind likely referencing a 1960 work by Anne Sexton, reinforcing Jones’s intent to engage with complex literary and social themes.
This project highlights Jones’s continued exploration of contemporary classical music. His past works include the opera The Ghost Sonata, adapted from August Strindberg’s play, as well as experimental and improvisational collaborations with groups like Minibus Pimps and Supersilent, where he continues to push boundaries across genres. Fans of Jones will recognize his ability to integrate inventive musical textures while maintaining emotional depth, bridging his rock legacy with his classical pursuits.
Why It Matters
The premiere of this song cycle reinforces John Paul Jones’s stature not only as a rock icon but as a versatile, innovative composer in multiple musical worlds. For audiences of Live Jam, it’s a rare opportunity to explore his classical compositions alongside live rock performances, creating a continuum of music that spans centuries of inspiration, from Zeppelin’s explosive improvisations to carefully curated contemporary song cycles.
Tonight on Live Jam
Listeners can enjoy Get the Led Out Live, a three-hour deep dive into Led Zeppelin’s most legendary live concerts, capturing the energy, improvisation, and power of each performance exactly as it happened. Following that, Live Jam brings attention to John Paul Jones’s new classical work, allowing fans to experience his evolution as a musician in real time.
With Live Jam’s dedication to all-live recordings, from jazz to rock to classical premieres, tonight’s lineup is a testament to the power of music performed live. Tune in and witness the magic of musicianship from Led Zeppelin’s iconic stages to the refined elegance of Wigmore Hall’s world premiere, all from your own speakers.
Listen tonight on Live Jam at 10PM EST for Get the Led Out Live, followed by the latest on John Paul Jones’s 2026 song cycle, and immerse yourself in the artistry of live music in every form.
