Torfaen Jazz Mini-fest - April 9 and 10

The Torfaen Jazz Society is hosting a mini festival near Pontypool on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 April.

Canadian trumpeter Jay Phelps is one of the main attractions, along with Jamie Brownfield, Mike Britton, John Paul Gard, Ben Waghorn and many more.

Gigs take place at the society's usual Friday night venue, the Sebastopol Social Club, and the nearby Open Hearth just a short walk away.

Admission is by wristband costing £5 for Friday night and £10 for Saturday available from the two venues or by phoning 07739 155585.

See www.torfaenjazz.org.uk for full details.

Jazz Connection playlist 8 March 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 8 March 2010 on Radio Cardiff 98.7:

Paolo Nutini & the Big Ghana Band – Pencil Full of Lead
Mulatu Astatke – Boogaloo
Dave Stapleton Quintet – Wig Wag
Marlene VerPlanck – I've Got You Under My Skin
Quantic Soul Orchestra – Panama City
Nicolas Meier Acoustic Trio – Autumn Leaves
Paula Gardiner Trio – Beneath Rioja Skies
Gareth Roberts Quintet – Going Nowhere Fast
The Scott McNicholas Experience – That Old Devil Called Love
5 Go Swing – I'll See You In My Dreams
John Paul Gard – Pee Wee's Blues

The Jazz Connection goes out every Monday night at 8pm on Radio Cardiff - tune in at 8pm on 98.7 FM or watch and listen live online at www.radiocardiff.org

You can also hear the latest show anytime online at www.jazzconnection.co.uk

Gaudy Orde - ukulele skiffle band

Ukulele star Jeff Japers kindly invited me to join him on percussion at the recent Rele Dife benefit gig for Haiti which took place at A Shot in the Dark in Cardiff on Friday 19 February.

Together with Alex Coxhead on bass and bouzouki, we are known as Gaudy Orde and are available for the proverbial weddings, parties, anything etc in the coming months.

Here are a few more video clips from the Rele Dife event:

• Hallelujah/Ukulele
  
• Tetris
  
• Dear Eric

Search for unsigned Welsh jazz talent

Future Inns has launched a competition to find the most talented and original unsigned jazz musicians in south Wales and south west England.

The hotel chain is offering a top prize worth up to £5,000 - including recording studio time, a mentoring session with a top UK Jazz artist, and a gig at their jazz venue at Cabot Circus in Bristol.

The winners will also be offered accommodation at the Future Inns hotels in Bristol, Cardiff Bay and Plymouth.

Del Brett, managing director at Future Inns, said: "Jazz is often seen as a niche art form and our aim with this competition is to help promote the talented musicians and performers that live in the south west and south Wales.

"With a great prize package to offer, we anticipate hearing different styles of jazz and hopefully find a truly unique and talented winner."

Ian Storror, manager of Jazz@Future Inns and well-known jazz promoter, said: "The club is already attracting established names on the international, national and local scene and we hope that by helping new talent come to light we can put the spotlight on the next future stars of jazz."

The deadline for entries is 28 March 2010, with a semi-final gig on May 8 and a finals night to be held following that.

Interested entrants need to go to the Future Inns, Bristol website and download the entry form and then submit a recording of a minimum of one original composition of jazz music and either one or two other pieces.

For more information see www.futureinns.co.uk/jazz-competition.html or email futureofjazz @ jbp.co.uk

Also see www.myspace.com/jazzatfutureinns

Jazz Connection playlist 1 March 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 1 March 2010 on Radio Cardiff 98.7:

Gwyn Evans and Doctor Jazz – Sospan Fach
Lee Jones – Retrospective
Li Harding – If We Did
Sun Ra – Where Pathways Meet
Healer Selecta – Cruisin' On The Highway
Portico Quartet – Isla
Koop – Forces… Darling
Asaf Sirkis Trio – Dream
Christian Scott – Angola, LA and the 13th Amendment
Coltrane Dedication Band – Mr PC

Hear the show right now at www.jazz-connection.co.uk

The Jazz Connection goes out every Monday night at 8pm on Radio Cardiff - tune in on 98.7 FM or watch and listen live online at www.radiocardiff.org

Jazz Connection playlist 22 February 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 22 February on Radio Cardiff 98.7 FM:

Courtney Pine – Afropean
Philip Clouts Quartet – Bird's Word
The Numbers Racket – Swingin' Like a Wreckin' Ball
Jean-Paul Gard Pedal Mania – Beef Dumplin' Stew
Ronnie Scott's Quintet ft Mornington Lockett – Little Sunflower
Healer Selecta ft Snowboy – Sweet Lil' Thang of Mine
Peter Green Splinter Group – Black Magic Woman
Rigmor Gustafsson/Radio String Qrt Vienna - Please Don't Stop
5 Go Swing – Douce Ambiance

The Jazz Connection goes out every Monday night 8 till 9pm on Radio Cardiff - tune in on 98.7 FM or watch and listen live online at www.radiocardiff.org

Jazz Connection playlist 15 February 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Radio Cardiff on Monday 15 February 2010:

Beats & Pieces Big Band – Bake
Tanja Maritsa – Fragile
Courtney Pine – Toussaint L'Ouverture
Wonderbrass – Dunkin' with Rich T
Alejandro Toledo & the Magic Tombelinos – Vera Cocek
Nils Petter Molvaer – Sabkah
Tammy Weis – Don't Want To Fall In Love Again
Omar Puente – Think Carefully
Adam Glasser – On Green Dolphin Street
Three Bonzos and a Piano – The Sheik of Araby
Manfred Mann – Sack O'Woe

Hear the show right now at www.jazz-connection.co.uk/radio.shtml

The Jazz Connection goes out every Monday at 8pm on Radio Cardiff - tune in on 98.7 FM or watch and listen live online at www.radiocardiff.org