Lleuwen - jazz/folk CD and tour

The vocalist who won acclaim for her work on Huw Warren's album of Welsh hymns returns with a solo album fusing jazz and Welsh folk music.

Lleuwen Steffan first emerged as a member of the north Wales jazz band Acoustique, before moving to London where she performed in Ronnie Scott's, The Vortex, the 606 Club and in Paris.

The new album Penmon - named after her Anglesey home - marks a departure for Lleuwen, who is perhaps best known for her interpretations of other people’s work, notably the Duw a Wyr/God Only Knows hymn project with Huw Warren.

Her return to Wales has heralded the beginning of a new creative phase and provided the inspiration for this collection of mostly original tracks.

"Penmon has given me these songs … they are Penmon's songs," says Lleuwen.

The album also includes an arrangement of Y Darlun by T. Rowland Hughes as well as a track co-produced with Mr Phormula (Ed Holden) written to compliment the words of historical Welsh poet T. Gwynn Jones.

Penmon will be released in Wales on June 18th and throughout the rest of the UK on July 30th, with distribution by Proper. The album is also available from www.sainwales.com or digitally through Itunes.

Lleuwen will be touring through the summer to promote the album:

June 16th - Galeri, Caernarfon
July 6th - Ty Siamas, Dolgellau
July 13th - Ty Newydd Sarn, Penllyn
July 17th - The Vortex, London
July 19th - Klinker, Nunhead, London
July 20th - The Salisbury, London
July 21st - Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
July 27th - Pentraeth Hall, Anglesey
August 9th - National Eisteddfod, Mold
August 10th - Rainbow Enlightenment Festival, Chepstow
August 24th - Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
August 28th - Dempsey's, Cardiff

See www.myspace.com/lleuwen for more details - you can also read her profile at bbc.co.uk/jazzinwales