Latest news from the 'Jazz in the Bar' team at Brecon


Latest news from the 'Jazz in the Bar' team at Brecon - 

Hope you had a great summer, including of course, selections from last month's Brecon Jazz Festival or the 'Major Swing' events!
The club had three outstanding concerts and rave reviews, we're really pleased about these, and thank you lovely audience for supporting these, including also a recent concert in Ebbw Vale at the Beaufort theatre.
Quotes from the reviews are below.
We are also collecting feedback, so if you have any thoughts, please send them in (and thank you for those who've emailed already). Our concerts were: (1) Major Swing (from France) with Remi Harris and Ashley Long, (2) Martin Taylor (solo), (3) Deirdre Cartwright with Alison Rayner, Will Barnes, Tom Ollendorff and Greg Evans.
September's jazz club is Tuesday 15 September, 8pm, the Mañana Collective - Latin rhythms (poster has details).
Supper will be 6.30 at the Clarence Pub. RSVP. We'll pre-select from their menu and eat together there before the jazz. Please reply to let me know if you'd like to come. The food is inexpensive and very good - Roger and I love the veggie sausages there, so rsvp.
Meanwhile, this coming weekend, there is more to taste and enjoy, especially for BJC fans of Remi, Susie, Debs, Emily, and many new faces and sounds to hear, at the Wall2Wall (Black Mountain / Abergavenny) Jazz Festival (4-6 September) some examples below, but lots more on the website:
Wall2Wall Abergavenny / Black Mountain Jazz
Fri: Ben Thomas, Debs Hancock, Andrew Fawcett.....and more
Sat: Bluesy Susie, Emily Saunders... and much more
Sun: Remi Harris trio... lots to enjoy
http://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk/wall2wall.html
Also wanted to thank everyone who helps with distributing or displaying our monthly posters - Theatr team, Barrie, Ian, Roger, Margaret & John and many others, also Carwen Davies for poster.
In town: Premier convenience store, The Cafe, Tipple n Tiffin, Giglios, Market Hall, Wellington Hotel, Ty Helyg, Honddu Wholefoods, Guildhall, Bijou Cafe, The Hours, Pilgrims, Brynich Campsite.


JAZZ QUOTES from the Festival - from Reviews by Ian Mann (www.thejazzman.com)
MAJOR SWING : a vivacious performance that was rapturously received by a capacity crowd. In a programme celebrating the jazz guitar, it was perhaps appropriate that these two brilliant soloists [Jean Guyomarc'h, Remi Harris] made the most lasting impression. Some of the playing was quite dazzling as the pair traded ideas above the frequently breakneck rhythms laid down by Cann [Philippe, rhythm guitar] and the always excellent Long [Ashley, double bass]. Hu impressed in the Stephane Graphelli (violin) role and delivered a series of excellent solos and Cann anchored the group superbly..[Overall] ..superb instrumental interplay and high standard of musicianship...a great success.
MARTIN TAYLOR : a masterclass in the art of solo guitar and a genuine festival highlight.. [the] performance felt something like a homecoming..warm and filled with humanity... The rapt crowd silence ensured that every note and chord could be heard with the utmost clarity. The playing was both brilliant and immaculate [with] spoken episodes both serious and humorous. Time seemed to stand still as Taylor drew the audience deep within his personal soundworld.. (and it) ended on a celebratory note with Taylor's remarkable rendition of 'I wish I knew how it would feel to be free'. This performance was utterly spellbinding.
CARTWRIGHT & FRIENDS : united by the common language of jazz and by their shared love for the music of Montomery and Remler, [the band] put together an excellent programme of music that respectfully honoured the two dedicatees and included some terrific playing. One of the set highlights [Jobim's 'How Insensitive', with 3 guitarists] was a tightly focussed performance featuring intertwining melodic lines and rhythmic patterns and solos from Barnes, Ollendorff and Cartwright in turn. On 'Four on Six', the five musicians swung their way joyously, with solos from all three guitars plus features for bass and drums. I was very impressed with the way this final show was structured ..with all five musicians acquitting themselves superbly.

GUILDHALL: This final well-received event represented another triumph for Brecon Jazz Club and completed a hugely successful series of events celebrating the role of the Jazz Guitar.

Lynne Gornall

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