September Jazz News
It’s been a busy time in the jazz world since we last met up, with Brecon, Llandeilo and Fishguard festivals, packed with performances. Several of us (the NJ core group) took the A40 for a day at Brecon Jazz, which like ourselves is run entirely by volunteers, and enjoyed a hot day of free music in the town square and the church. We were impressed with the Constellation big band and have since booked them for our December show. Since there are up to 20 players, this will be at the Queens Hall.
Meanwhile back at the chicken shack, we chickens have been busy letting all our friends and relations know about the fabulous Swing and jive dance that is our next date at the Plas. Yes it’s Thursday 15th. and will be quite different to our previous shows. This one will have the dance floor cleared and all the large tables removed and replaced by small tables and lots of chairs!
A chance to dance but – sitting to enjoy the nostalgic music is also an option, there will be enough seating if dancing is not for you.
Click here to get your tickets now www.narberthjazz.wales/events
Click here for a taste of the band https://youtu.be/80BXB4mQ85U If you feel like dressing in swing era styles we would be delighted.
We have also been looking ahead so we can promise you an interesting autumn/winter programme with the return of The John Gibbon trio, with Guy Shotton on piano, Ollie Blanchflower on acoustic bass and John on small drum set and caustic comments.
They will be playing on October 20th with star alto sax player Glen Manby.
Glen Manby is an alto saxophonist, composer, and teacher, working primarily in straight ahead modern acoustic jazz. His main influences are Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, and Cannonball Adderley. He gained an M.A. in Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was granted a scholarship to study at a New York music college. Glen has had some high profile gigs including the EU European Summit, the Queen’s banquet for the Opening of the Senedd Welsh Parliament, the Opening of the Wales Millennium Centre, and club dates around Britain, as well as gigs in New York, Germany, and Switzerland. In 2015 he was awarded an Arts Council of Wales Project Grant to compose, arrange and record a new repertoire with his recently-formed quintet, featuring Steve Waterman, Leon Greening, Adam King, and Matt Home. The resulting CD, “Homecoming”, is available on the Mainstem jazz label.
Glen has previously taught saxophone at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and was a part-time lecturer in music at the University of South Wales for 12 years. He was visiting jazz saxophone tutor at Cardiff University School of Music 2000-2021.
He will be playing for us with the indefatigable John Gibbon trio on Thursday 20th October. Tickets here: Glen Manby with John Gibbon TrioNarberth Jazz
You can read about his career here https://www.glenmanby.com/about
and listen to him here https://youtu.be/2Frd_9a6jvs
On November 17th. we will feature a young group from Bristol on tour for their first album. They hail from Bristol where they have made a big splash with a monthly gig at The Greenbank. Alex Veitch, who is the very talented pianist, is a first class emerging artist and we are proud to present his band which is called YETII.
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The next Tenby Jazz Lunch at The Imperial Hotel, on 18th Sep, features the “swinging mainstream vibes with a hint of West Coast low-key coolness” from the Cool Jazz Quartet. Led by Greg Sterland (tenor & baritone sax).
We hope you were able to watch some of the BBC Proms, which I enjoyed, including the South African Jazz prom which was really exciting https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001bcrz