NEWSLETTER MAY 2023
Hello lovely Jazzophiles,
Belated Beltane greetings from the beating heart of Narberth. We hope you have enjoyed a month of fabulous melody and sanctified soul.
The April gig with Simon Spillett was a stunner as you will know if you were there. We were treated to a torrent of saxophone improv from a master of be bop. Sharp suited Simon’s devotion to the music of Tubby Hayes was in evidence from the first number to the very end. His fleet fingered variations on all the tunes kept us all on tip toe, 
especially the JG Trio who had to work hard to keep up on the fast tempo’s Simon set for most numbers. John Paul Garde who was guesting on piano and Bass player Ollie Blanchflower rose magnificently to the challenge and they made a marvellous racket.
This month’s gig sees the return of the Coltrane Dedication Quintet who were very well received here last year, with many requests for a rebooking and this is it! Thursday 18th. May.
Coltrane Dedication is co-led by the twin saxophones of Lyndon Owen and Caractacus Downes, both based around Monmouth. These two are the only constants in a pool of musicians that has included bassists Ashley John Long, Dominic Lash, Aidan Thorne, Erika Lyons, Bill Fletcher, Dane Cronenberg and Steve Tarner, pianists Dave Jones, Paul Jones, John Paul Gard, Mark Latimer, Mike Collins and Lynn Thomas and drummers Ian Poole, Iolo Whelan, Mark O’Connor, Greg Evans and Bob Duck.
Here they are on home ground https://youtu.be/30Id4IFoNL0
Always a profound evening, the intensity of the dynamic between these five players produces a single entity whose unity and trust in each other is palpable.
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Coming up at Narberth Jazz
22nd June. Dick Hamer’s Jazz Passengers with singer Jenny Jones
Narberth Jazz proudly present for your delight Dick Hamer’s Jazz Passengers with singer Jenny Jones. This is a 7 piece group comprising Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Bass and Drums accompanying one of our favourite singers Jenny Jones. This will be on Thursday 22nd June at the Plas hotel Narberth Doors 7:30
20th July . 7 Steps to Heaven, Tomos Williams pays homage to Miles.
5th August. Our famous Garden Party at Lampeter House with 2 of the best bands around.
Around About Dusk are a fascinating group of young players from Bristol area https://youtu.be/OnQvmqOVZv4
One of the many minor names in jazz history who deserve a little more attention is trombonist Jimmy Cleveland who played with Lionel Hampton and Quincy Jones in the fifties. In 1955 he made this lovely record under his own name. https://youtu.be/0kbwFUHX8BM
Aberjazz has The Nuadha Quartet on Friday 2nd June in Peppers
On Thursday 8th June in Ffwrn Afternoon in Paris
Tenby Jazz has the Haines-Davies Quintet playing on 11th June
That’s all until we meet again under the sign of the swinging cymbal. Good luck and good listening.