The Root Doctors are back!

Mike Harries and the Root Doctors are back at their stamping ground, the old Four Bars Inn opposite Cardiff Castle, now known as Dempseys.

You can see them on Wednesday 28 February and Wednesday 14 March, doors 8pm, music from 9pm, admission £3.

The Root Doctors are also performing a free gig in the foyer of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay on Saturday 24 March, 6 till 7pm.

Check out the new website at www.rootdoctors.co.uk or contact Mike on 029 2059 3426 or email rootdoctors @ tiscali.co.uk

Don't forget that Alistair and Brenda present jazz at Dempseys on Tuesday and Friday nights - see www.myspace.com/dempseysjazz for details.

Worldport set to leave Cardiff

The annual Worldport Music Festival looks set to leave Cardiff as organisers say they're looking for a new home for the event.

It follows a decision by Cardiff Council to end its financial contribution to the festival which has brought hundreds of leading international musicians and dancers to the city over the last five summers.

Worldport Music Festival first came to Cardiff in 2002 to enhance Cardiff's bid for the 2008 European City of Culture, and featured major stars from the worlds of jazz, Latin, blues and folk in a range of venues across the city and the bay.

Famous names appearing at Worldport have included jazz stars Regina Carter, Courtney Pine, Tony Kofi and Clare Teal; Eliades Ochoa and Cachaito Lopez of Buena Vista Social Club fame; folk legend Richard Thompson; Brit-award winning soul singer Amy Winehouse; and African stars Manu Dibango, Radio Tarifa, Bembeya Jazz, and the Super Rail Band.

Co Director of the Festival John Ellson says: "We thank Cardiff Council for their support over the past five years. We've had some terrific concerts and we're saddened at the news that the Council has decided to cease funding the festival whilst still in its infancy.

"We're now putting all our efforts into finding a new home for Worldport in Cardiff or other interested centres in Wales. As producers of this successful annual festival of music and dance, I am sure Worldport can find a committed partner to host this great event".

See the website at www.worldport-festivals.com for archive information about the 2006 event.

Big Band Charity Concert in Caldicot

The Bryan Jones Big Band will be performing a Big Band Charity Concert at Caldicot Choir Hall on Saturday 10 March.

Expect an evening of big band music in the style of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Ted Heath, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and many others.

All twenty musicians are either professional or semi professional from North West England and the Midlands who get together regularly to play their kind of music for the enjoyment of the audience and themselves.

They've toured extensively at home and abroad, and over the years have featured guest stars including George Chisholm, Roy Castle and Joe Harriot.

The gig has been arranged by the Rotary Club of Chepstow in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance.

Doors open at 7.30pm - concert commences at 8pm.

Tickets available from Alan Jones on 01291 620175 or email alansjones @ ukonline.co.uk or contact any member of Chepstow Rotary.

Fawcett and Logiri - The Italian Connection on tour

Saxophonist Andrew Fawcett from the Vale of Glamorgan joins forces once again with Italian pianist Davide Logiri for a spring tour.

Tues 6 March - Spike's Place at Hadleigh Hall, Essex

Weds 7 March - Bull's Head, Barnes, London

Thurs 8 March - Cafe Jazz, Cardiff

Fri 9 March - Symphony Hall Foyer, Birmingham

Sat 10 March - Black Cat Jazz Bar, Northampton

Sun 11 March - Jagz Club at the Station, Ascot

Mon 12 March - Mustard Pot, Leeds

Tues 13 March - The Harwood, Harrogate

They'll be joined by Greg Evans and Alessio Pacifico on drums, with Ralf Dorrell and Gianluca Alberti playing bass.

The show will feature tracks from Andrew and Davide's CD The Chase, recorded live at The Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff in February 2006.

For more details see www.andrewfawcett.co.uk and
www.davidelogiri.eu

Samba and Short in Segou

Ruby Samba and Tim Short have just returned home from a ten day trip to Mali in west Africa.

See some photos of their trip and some musical highlights on video, including Tim's meeting with a member of Toumani Diabate's band.

http://web.mac.com/timtysonshort/iWeb/mali/web.html

Ruby and Tim will be performing at the Glo Bar, Churchill Way, Cardiff, this Friday 16th February - they're also in the line-up for my jazzy Meltdown at Clwb Ifor Bach on Sunday 25th.

Trombonists wanted by Steve Waterman

Steve Waterman needs a few more trombonists to sign up for his contemporary big band course at the Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, from March 30 to April 1.

Check www.swjo.co.uk for further details.

Meltdown in Cardiff - February 25

I'll be hosting a jazzy edition of Meltdown, the monthly musical showcase at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on Sunday 25 February.

The line-up features some of my favourite artists - funk/rock/drum'n'bass trio Freak Unique, vocalist Ruby Samba, and jazz sax/guitar duo Kitty Bevan.

Also appearing will be guitarist Adrian Hughes, a new duo called the Blues Guys, and bellydancer Siluria.

Doors open at 8pm, admission £4 or £3 concessions.

More details at www.cardiffmeltdown.com