JAN FEB NEWS 2024
New Year greetings to all Narberth Jazz members and friends, we hope it’s going to be a good one with more peace – lots of good music and less war. Yes this old world is in a terrible state, but we can only look after ourselves and each other and hope that our leaders will do what’s right for the world.
The January gig featuring Hot Club Gallois was a resounding success and certainly blew the post-Christmas blues away for all who came. The band just get better every time they play for us and make me aware of how lucky we are to have them here to bring the joy of superbly played Hot Club music to us all. We will try and get them back later in the year.
Turning to preview the future programme is a delight as we have some marvellous music lined up for the next few months. Our next evening features the 8 piece band – The Mingus Project led by bassist Cameron Saint. They play the original music and arrangements and jazz standards created by the legendary jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus. They capture the spirit and energy of Mingus’ music, from his bluesy roots to his avant-garde experiments.
Hailing from Cardiff, the 8 incredible young musicians, all perfecting their art at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with tuition from some of the best Jazz artists in the UK. Each member shares a love for Charles Mingus’ compositions and brings something new to these pieces.
So join us for a night of unforgettable jazz, as The Mingus Project take the stage at the Plas Hotel Narberth, on Thursday 15th February.
Our March event features the pianistic skills of composer Dave Jones who will be familiar to regular attenders.
This time Dave brings his quintet to celebrate his 60th birthday with two different sets of music.
Firstly a clutch of his own tunes newly arranged for this line up, followed by trumpeter Andy Hague’s recent arrangements of Kenny Garrett tunes. Jones’s current quintet features Andy Hague (doubling flugelhorn), Ben Waghorn (tenor saxophone), Ashley John Long (bass) and Ryan Thrupp (drum kit) the same personnel of their highly acclaimed live album recorded at Pizza Express, London.
Unfortunately Tenby jazz Sunday lunchtime session has been cancelled.
There is more bass action in Fishguard on 3rd Feb when Thomas Marsh from St Davids, Thomas Marsh is an up and coming bassist and composer, now based in Birmingham.
A couple of other listening opportunities for you are firstly, Danish pianist Soren Bebe who is offering his serene trio music at a bargain price from his website https://sorenbebe.com/
Norwegian guitarist Hedvig Mollestad who is known as Oslo’s queen of heavy jazz is worth exploring on YouTube https://youtu.be/ugdendi43ZE?si=xHxrQHkaVvJPtgGH
We hope that you remembered to renew your membership for ‘24, but if not you can do it here Membership Renewal 2024Narberth Jazz
Best wishes to you all
The NJ team