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

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Jazz Connection playlist 25 May 2009

Here's what I played on a funky Bank Holiday special edition of the Jazz Connection on Monday 25 May on Radio Cardiff:

King Curtis - Memphis Soul Stew (Live)
Ella Fitzgerald - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Dizzy Gillespie - Mas Que Nada
Tom Jones - Hard To Handle
Beginning of the End - Funky Nassau
The Amigos - Caravan
Brian Auger - A Day In The Life
Herb Alpert - Sunny
Patti Drew - Fever
Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland - Un Grao De Areia
Shirley Bassey - Light My Fire
Ray Barretto - Pastime Paradise

On Monday 1 June I'll be looking ahead to the Cardiff Jazz Festival with my special guest, festival organiser Steve Coombe.

Tune in at 8pm on 98.7 FM or watch and listen live online at www.radiocardiff.org

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Cardiff Jazz Festival - June 2 to 10

The annual Cardiff Jazz Festival takes place in the city from June 2 to 10 with a string of headline acts and local bands.

Tues 2 June - John Law Trio @ Dempseys

Weds 3 June - Osian Roberts/Steve Fishwick Quintet @ Dempseys

Sun 7 June - Welsh Jazz Awards, plus Eric Dolphy Project, Jones O’Connor Group, ReBop @ The Globe

Mon 8 June - Dave Stapleton Quintet, Burum, Little Fish @ The Globe

Tues 9 June - Dempseys Big Band Plus Special Guest @ Dempseys

Weds 10 June - Led Bib @ Dempseys

There's also a chance to vote for your favourite performers and venues in the Welsh Jazz Awards - for details see www.cardiffjazzfestival.com


Steve Coombe will be my special guest on the Jazz Connection, 8pm on Monday 1 June, on Radio Cardiff 98.7 when we'll be discussing the festival and playing tracks from some of the featured artists.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Stars out for Brecon Jazz 2009

South African piano legend Abdullah Ibrahim, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and the Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem will headline the 2009 Brecon Jazz Festival from August 7 to 9.

Festival favourite Courtney Pine will also return to perform his new album inspired by Sidney Bechet, Tradition in Transition.

There will be 25 concerts over the weekend, which will also feature free family events - Fireworks on Friday, a Jazz Carnival parade on Saturday, and the Jazz Service on Sunday.


The Festival will be held in three central venues – Theatr Brycheiniog's 800-seater concert hall, its cafe, and Brecon Cathedral.


Festival director Peter Florence said: "Brecon'll be different this year, and very different next year. It's a huge adventure, and we're deeply grateful to everyone who's been so supportive and encouraging."

The full festival programme will be launched in mid-June - details will be posted on the new Brecon Jazz website at www.breconjazz.org

Brecon Jazz is produced by Hay Festival, and funded by The Arts Council of Wales.

The ACW had initially planned to relaunch the festival in 2010 after the previous organising company ceased trading.

But it revised its plans following widespread public concern that there should be no "gap year".

Read more on the BBC News website.

Jazz Connection playlist 18 May 2009

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 18 May on Radio Cardiff 98.7:

Hugh Masekela – Saduva
Martin Speake – Diverse
Dave Stapleton Quintet – Snitch
Lee Jones – Cookin' on Gas
Evan Christopher – I Know That You Know
Liberty Street Jazz Band – Comes Love
Jones O'Connor Group – No-Wave
Branford Marsalis Quartet – Rhythm-a-Ning
Maceo Parker – Let's Get It On

I also revealed some exclusive news about the line-up for this year's Brecon Jazz Festival - see the next story on the blog for more info.

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

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Jazz Connection playlist 14 May 2009

Here's what I played on my monthly show for south Wales valleys station GTFM on Thursday 14 May:

Sirius B – Something New
John Law's Art of Sound – Congregation
Liberty Street Jazz Band – Bugle Call Rag
Jones O'Connor Group – Worker Bee
Andy Sheppard – Bing
Sax Appeal – PTB
Wyn Lodwick/Dill Jones - In a Sentimental Mood
Led Bib – Yes, Again
Madeleine Peyroux – Love and Treachery
Maceo Parker – ABC
Keith Little Band – Jumpin' At The Woodside

Diana Krall – Quiet Nights (Corcovado)
Dave Stapleton Quintet – Dedication Song
Lee Jones – Halfway House
Martin Speake – I'm In The Mood For Love
Marcia Pendlebury/Art Themen – S'Wonderful
Branford Marsalis Quartet – The Last Goodbye
Hugh Masekela – Thimlela
Evan Christopher – Farewell Blues

My next show on GTFM is on Thursday 18 June from 7 till 9pm.

Don't forget the Jazz Connection also goes out every Monday night at 8pm on Radio Cardiff.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Jazz Connection playlist 11 May 2009

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 11 May on Radio Cardiff:

Mike Harries Root Doctors – DIY
The Perceptions ft Fred Wesley – Running the Risk
Joe Lovano – Powerhouse
Cassandra Wilson – Fragile
Jigsaw – Slackers Hideaway
Sax Appeal – New York Walk
Chet Baker – My Funny Valentine
Asaf Sirkis Trio – Alone
Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara – Fulani Coochie Man
Marcia Pendlebury/Art Themen – S'Wonderful
Seb Pipe’s Life Experience – Yo Tico (Tico Tico No Fuba/Yonetsu)

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

But this week you can also hear my monthly edition of the show on south Wales valleys station GTFM - tune in on 107.9 FM or www.gtfm.co.uk this Thursday 14 May from 7 till 9pm.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Jazz FM tops 400,000

The relaunched Jazz FM has attracted 408,000 listeners in the first six months after its return to the airwaves.

Although Jazz FM can be heard nationwide via digital TV and the internet, it's only available on DAB digital radio in five regions of the UK, including south Wales.

The short-lived digital station theJazz, which closed in March 2008, attracted 407,000 listeners but had much wider coverage on DAB across the UK.

Jazz FM offers a broad range of jazz across the board from smooth to standards, classic soul, blues, bebop, swing, trad, big band, Latin, nu-jazz, fusion and electronica with presenters including Peter Young, Mike Chadwick and Steve Quirk

You can hear the station via www.jazzfm.com, Sky Digital channel 0202, Freesat channel 730 and on DAB in selected areas including London and the South East, Cardiff and south Wales, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Manchester and the North West, and Glasgow.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Jazz Connection playlist 4 May 2009

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 4 May on Radio Cardiff 98.7:

Richard Groove Holmes – Listen Here
Colosseum ft Chris Farlowe – Tomorrow’s Blues
Till Bronner ft Vanessa da Mata – O Que Sera
Youngblood Brass Band – Is That a Riot?
Dan James – Blues for June
Le Trio Joubran – Sama-Sounounou
5 Go Swing – Putting on the Ritz
The Qualitons – One Man Song
Nathan Haines ft Marlena Shaw – Right Now
Paul Gonsalves Quartet – Boom Jackie Boom Chick
Trudy Kerr/Michael Garrick – Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
Jimmy Smith – Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
Keith Little Band – St Thomas

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

Keep sending me your gig info and CDs for use in the show.