Spring Greetings Jazz lovers,
We can look forward to a season of great live jazz in Narberth. We started well with the free improv of Duski in February, contrasting with the highly arranged music of Kenny Garrett with Dave Jones’ Quintet last month and now star saxman Simon Spillett with John Gibbon Trio, this month with John Paul Gard on piano.
Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it’s possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal’s Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist, Social Media commentator and latterly blogger.
However, for all these varied skills he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop to heartfelt balladry. 
A charismatic performer, gifted with a dry observational wit, he’s never lost sight of the fact that jazz is entertainment as much as self-expression and whether playing, writing or articulately holding forth on his favourite subject – UK jazz history – he’s an infectiously passionate communicator.
We are proud to have him here to play for us on Thursday 20th April order your tickets via the website at an early date www.narberthjazz.wales/events
18 May 23 John Coltrane
22 June 23 Jazz Passengers
13 July 23 Thomas Williams Seven Steps
5 August 23 Garden Party – an afternoon/evening at Lampeter House. Music tba
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Other Jazz in the Shire
Tenby Jazz brunch is on 16th April with The Keith Little Trio and Jane Williams
Aberjazz Fishguard has Huw Warren & Iain Bellamy on March 31st but you have missed the boat as it is now sold out. Here is a nice link to a Huw Warren solo for home enjoyment https://youtu.be/wbI-r-Up6-k
Jazz in the Village. Saturday 29th April
At Longstone Community Hall -Ludchurch (SA67 8JG)
Part of Ian Miller and Dominic Spencer’s UK tour www.millarandspencer.co.uk
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Jazz on the media
Wayne Shorter died on 2nd March and Jazz record requests on Radio 3 has a tribute edition on Sunday 26th. March https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bs8x
In the heady days when David Attenborough was in charge at BBC2 we had Jazz 625, a weekly live jazz programme, often introduced by Humphrey Lyttleton. These days Jazz on TV is a rare thing but last Friday BBC 4 had a documentary about Ottilie Patterson who oldies will remember singing with Chris Barber in the 1950’s. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ht97
Be warned, Chris Barber comes out of it badly.
Scrolling through the suggestions on YouTube, I came across this fascinating radio programme on Art Tatum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G4wtPG33Ss from 1991.
To celebrate women’s history month, Blossom Dearie https://youtu.be/4hGjzuXchGg
We would like to expand our core group of volunteers so if you have any time to spare to keep live music going, please let us know info@narberthjazz.wales
‘That’s All Folks’
Declan on behalf of the NJ team
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