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, April 28, 2010

Cardiff band in Future jazz semis

Farmyard Cannibals


Farmyard Cannibals from Cardiff have made it through to the semi-final of a competition to find new jazz talent run by Future Inns.

They'll battle it out against three other bands – The Swiss from Devon and Bristol's Lund Quartet and All-In-One Helmet – at the semi-final on Saturday May 8 held at Future Inns' hotel in Cabot Circus, Bristol.

The two bands judged the best will go through to the final.

Farmyard Cannibals are 19-year-olds Huw Williams on bass, Ben Treacher on sax and Lloyd Haines on drums, with 20-year-old Joe Webb on piano. They are all students at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama studying jazz.

Huw said: "We're so chuffed to get through to the semi-final of the competition, giving us the chance to play in England for the first time and reach a different audience. And of course, we'd love to win!

"We all had massive colds and flu when we recorded the demo so we didn’t expect to get through, making us extra happy now we have.

"Our band formed last April and we’re heavily influenced by South American music. Our sound is quite energetic, quite modern, high-energy contemporary jazz.

"Jazz offers amazing freedom of expression - you can improvise, you can do anything. After college, we all hope to make a living out of playing jazz, so this competition is a brilliant chance for us.

"Cardiff definitely has a vibrant jazz scene that's growing in popularity. With two jazz clubs in our city and performers coming over from London, Cardiff is a great place to hear live jazz."

For more information visit
www.futureinns.co.uk

Jazz Heritage Wales is launched

Jazz Heritage Wales - a registered charity formerly known as Women in Jazz Swansea - will be officially launched at its new home on Swansea Metropolitan University’s Townhill campus next Wednesday 5 May.

A recipient of the Diversity Wales Award in 2003, the organisation delivers programmes to schools under their remit of PARE (Performance Archive Research Education) and has taken the roots of jazz music back to the 1830s when Wales had active anti-slavery and abolitionist movements.

The Jazz Heritage Wales archive includes a collection unique to Wales, holding thousands of photographs, recordings, journals and periodicals, as well as paintings and stage gowns donated by some of the world’s greatest female jazz artists.

The launch event will include live music from the Women in Jazz Allstars Swing Band and the Paula Gardiner Trio.

For further information contact Jen Wilson on 01792 402032 or email jazzheritagewales @ smu.ac.uk

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Butetown Bay Jazz - May 1 to 3

Ciyo Brown


Guitarist Ciyo Brown, Li Harding, The Amigos and Coltrane Dedication are among the attractions of an expanded Butetown Bay Jazz festival in Cardiff this Saturday 1 to Monday 3 May 2010.

The free festival follows the success of last year's one-day event and aims to celebrate the musical heritage of Tiger Bay.

A stage at Mermaid Quay on the city's waterfront will be the focus of activities on Saturday and Monday, with Sunday's live music taking place in the foyer of the nearby Wales Millennium Centre.

There'll also be performances by young musicians and dancers from the bay, and workshops in guitar, creative writing and marketing for musicians.

Radio Cardiff DJs including Donna Zammit, Paddi, Steven Johnson, Rachel Price and myself will keep things moving between the live acts.

The event will also be broadcast live on Radio Cardiff from 11am till 6pm each day, although the live music continues into the evening.

For a taste of what to expect, listen online to the latest edition of my show at www.jazz-connection.co.uk

Monday, April 26, 2010

Jazz Connection playlist 26 April 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 26 April 2010 on Radio Cardiff 98.7 - featuring special guest Humie Webbe looking ahead to the Butetown Bay Jazz Festival:

Victor Parker - Tiger Bay
James Morton's Porkchop – Goin' Home
Graham Watkins Quartet ft Claire Hingott – It's All Right With Me
The Amigos – Amor Verdadero
John-Paul Gard Pedal Mania – Beef Dumplin' Stew
The Baghdaddies – Keep Ya Feet Still
Coltrane Dedication – Mr PC
Li Harding – Not That Kind of Girl
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 watch and listen online at radiocardiff.org.uk

Monday, April 19, 2010

Jazz Connection playlist 19 April 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 19 April 2010 on Radio Cardiff 98.7:

Heavy Quartet – Bailey Dan y Bws
Soil & "Pimp" Sessions ft Jamie Cullum – Stolen Moments
Dominic Norcross Quartet – Swales' Sail
Curios – Pursuit
Jazz Jamaica – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
John Law Trio – Can a Cannibal Nibble?
Ella Fitzgerald – Sunny
Empirical – Things Are Getting Better (Live)
Harry Connick Jr – It Had To Be You
Salsa Celtica – El Agua De La Vida

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

You can also hear the latest show anytime at www.jazz-connection.co.uk

Monday, April 12, 2010

Jazz Connection playlist 12 April 2010

Here's what I played on the Jazz Connection on Monday 12 April 2010 on Radio Cardiff 98.7 FM:

Dizzy Gillespie – Manteca
Clare Teal – Dancing Cheek to Cheek
Michael Janisch – Precisely Now
Kevin Figes Quartet – The Grind
Martha Skilton – Groovy Samba
Babylon Circus – Des Fois
New Orleans Hula – New Orleans Hula
The Amigos – Throw It Away
Gareth Williams Power Trio – Seven Leaves
Acker Bilk – Buona Sera

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

This week you may have had problems accessing the live webcast, but you can always hear the latest show any time at www.jazz-connection.co.uk

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Jazz Connection gypsy/Balkan special

Easter Monday's Jazz Connection was another chance to hear my gypsy jazz/Balkan beats special which first went out in January - here's the playlist:

Django Reinhardt - Minor Swing
Mahala Rai Banda - Mahalageasca
Max Pashm - Imnul (Kish Mayn Tokhes)
Amsterdam Klezmer Band - Sadagora Hot Dub (Shantel mix)
Malarchy - Varshaver/Dark Eyes/King Nosmo
Moreno - David
Saban Bajramovic & Mostar Sevdah Reunion - Djeli Mara
Slavic Soul Party - Opa Cupa
The Amigos - Caravan
Rogora Khart - Siluria
Merlin Shepherd - Coins of Silver
Andreas Blasig Quintet - Dance With Me
5 Go Swing - I'll See You In My Dreams

If you missed the show last night you can hear it right now at
www.jazz-connection.co.uk/radio.shtml

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