Jazz in Wales

News about gigs, festivals, famous names, new artists and more compiled by DJ Andy Roberts in Cardiff, Wales. Send your updates to andy @ jazzinwales.co.uk

Saturday, December 30, 2006

theJazz - new radio station reviewed

Have you had a chance to hear theJazz, a new national digital radio station from the company that runs Classic FM?

I've been listening to it on and off since it launched on Christmas Day, and so far I'm impressed - for info, as a BBC employee I should point out I have no personal involvement in this venture.

It's a good mix of bebop and modern jazz classics from the likes of Ella, Miles, Art Blakey and co, plus modern day stars such as Jamie Cullum, Gwyneth Herbert and Peter Cincotti. But no sign of Katie Melua so far...

At the moment the station is playing continuous music with occasional idents, but they're promising to introduce presenters and programmes around Easter time.

Maybe it's not as wide ranging as it could be - so far I haven't heard anything avant garde, smooth or traditional - but at least it sounds like a jazz station!

You can hear theJazz on DAB, Sky channel 0113, ntl cable channel 961, or on the net at www.thejazz.com

Feel free to post your comments here.

The Samba Story with Bosco de Oliveira

Cardiff-based sextet Os Sambistas go on tour with Brazilian percussionist Bosco de Oliveira in the spring to tell The Samba Story.

They'll be exploring Brazil's rich musical heritage featuring familiar tunes from the country’s oldest indigenous music through to the modern, larger than life, bombastic sambas of recent times.

Here's the list of dates:

  • Friday 9 February - Caernarfon - Galeri
  • Sat 10 February - Narberth - Queens Hall
  • Sun 11 February - Brecon - Theatr Brycheiniog
  • Mon 12 February - Cardiff - Chapter Arts Centre
  • Weds 7 March - Aberystwyth - Arts Centre
  • Thur 8 March - Newport - Riverfront Arts Centre
  • Friday 9 March - Llangollen - Royal International Pavilion
  • Sat 10 March - Harlech - Theatr Ardudwy
  • Weds 14 March - Abergavenny - Borough Theatre
  • Thurs 15 March - Newtown - Theatr Hafren
  • Friday 16 March - Ammanford - Miners Theatre
  • Sat 17 March - Ebbw Vale - Beaufort Theatre

  • The Samba Story Tour 2007 is a Theatr Brycheiniog / Os Sambistas co-production and is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Arts Council of Wales through the Arts Outside Cardiff Fund.


    Tuesday, December 05, 2006

    Get set for theJazz on radio

    The owners of Classic FM have revealed the name and launch date of their new nationwide jazz station to be broadcast on digital radio and TV.

    theJazz will go on air at 9am on Christmas Day on DAB, Sky Digital and ntl:telewest digital cable TV.

    Mindful of the heated debate as to what jazz is, radio group GCap has launched a website at www.myspace.com/talkaboutjazz inviting people to share their views on this issue.

    They're promising a station "playing nothing but credible, authentic jazz in its many forms - whether that be bebop, swing, cool jazz, trad, blues, soul-jazz, modern jazz or smooth/fusion."

    Names who've signed up to support the station as "friends" of its myspace site include Herbie Hancock, Julian Joseph, Ron Carter, Madeleine Peyroux, The Vortex, Jazz Times and Jazzwise magazines and, er, Beyonce...