|
|
|
|
Gareth Roberts
Quintet |
|
|
|
|
|
Gareth Roberts -
Trombones
Gethin Liddington - Trumpet
Paul Jones - Piano
Chris O’Connor - Bass
Mark O’Connor - Drums
Marcin Wright - Saxophones & Clarinet (Pre September 2006)
This quintet have been playing together
for many years and have built up a large following in and around
Cardiff with their
own, unique, exciting brand of Jazz. All of the quintet are
acclaimed bandleaders in their own right but they recently
got together under the leadership of Gareth to record their
long-awaited debut album “The Attack of the Killer
Penguins” which
was launched on the 1st of June 2006.
All of the quintet are established players on the Welsh Jazz
scene and all have been involved at some time with the Wales
Jazz Composers Orchestra. Gareth and Gethin have been playing
together for many years now in various line-ups and have built
up a great understanding as a horn section. Mark, Chris and
Paul make up ¾ of the Jones O’Connor quartet,
another established, popular South Wales band who have so
far released 2 albums to great critical acclaim. Mark, Chris
and Paul work together as a rhythm section in the way that
only players who’ve built up a great understanding of
each other’s playing over many years can.
To listen to
extracts from the Gareth Roberts Quintet album and to view some
of the excellent artwork by Rhys Bevan Jones
click on the Killer penguin on the left. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Wales Jazz Composers
Orchestra |
|
|
|
 |
|
The
members of the Wales Jazz Composers Orchestra are hand picked
from the best of the Welsh
jazz scene, & the band features several Welsh musicians of international
standing and reputation such as Paula Gardiner (bass), Huw Warren
(piano, accordion) and Lee Goodall (saxes).
WJCO plays entirely original music composed
by
various members of the band. With two double basses, two drummers,
a violin, vocals and an accordion, as well as the usual trumpets
and saxophones, the orchestra’s 17-piece line-up is as
unique as its music.
Gareth is the sole trombone player in the band & the title
track of his latest album “The Attack of the Killer
Penguins” was
composed for the orchestra and was played as the final number
on all gigs on their recent Welsh tour. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Heavy Quartet |
|
|
|
Formed in 1984,
the Heavy Quartet have played a number of clubs and festivals
throughout
Britain
and Europe. They
have the distinction of being the only band to have performed at
the prestigious Brecon Jazz Festival every year since the festival’s
inception 20 years ago.
Membership of the band, which has fluctuated
through the years, currently stands at 8 musicians. Gareth is one
of the most recent recruit to the band and has been playing with
them since the middle of 2005.
Their latest album MACHINE (recorded just prior to Gareth joining
the band) illustrates the band’s interpretation of what could
perhaps be called jazz. It is a funky collection of grooves, mixing
a big brass sound with intricate improvisation.
fore more info see www.heavyquartet.com |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other
Bands |
|
|
 |
Byron
Jones Big Band
Traditional big band comprising many of the best players
in South Wales playing some excellent arrangements of big
band numbers made famous by classic American big bands such
as those run by Stan Kenton and Count Basie. The Byron Jones
Big Band play a residency in Burleigh Hall, Newport on the
first Wednesday of every month. see www.byronjonesbigband.com
Buena Risca Social Clwb
Buena Risca Social Clwb are the resident house
band at Cafe Jazz's Monthly Latin night Mi Casa es Su Casa.
Primarily started as an exploration into latin music and
salsa, they are now starting to develop their own sound.
Eight of the finest young jazz musicians on the Cardiff
scene have come together, instruments in hand, to be part
of the hottest Latin night in Wales.Buena
Risca Social Clwb
Rob Smith Onsombl
Led by Sax player and composer Rob Smith (of the Heavy Quartet
and Wonderbrass) Rob Smith’s Onsombl has the same
line-up as the Gareth Roberts Quintet with Rob replacing
Marcin on saxes. This band plays entirely original material
written by band leader Rob and have played many gigs at
the Millenium Centre and the Jazz Café in Cardiff.
Capital City Jazz Orchestra
Featuring the finest big band players in the South
Wales area CCJO are the resident big band at Dempseys Jazz
club in Cardiff. They play there on the first Tuesday of
every month and despite having only recently being formed
they have already started to draw a large support www.ccjo.co.uk.
Ummh
Ummh are a Welsh acid jazz band (featuring rappers
and an exciting brass section) who have won many fans with
performances at a variety of Welsh music festivals and gigs
since they were formed in Aberystwyth in1996. See www.ummh.net
for more info...
Li Harding
Wales’ finest jazz singer Li’s powerful,
gospel-tinged vocal style wins over crowds wherever she
performs. Having recently had a suite composed for her by
members of the Wales Jazz Composers Orchestra she has showed
everyone that she is capable of performing in a wide variety
of contemporary styles in addition to the bluesy numbers
for which she is best known.
Neil Rosser a’r band
Well established Welsh Language rock band led by
singer, guitarist and songwriter Neil Rosser. Neil has won
many fans over the years with his unique combination of
Soul, Funk and Rock but many enemies with his slightly over-aggressive
style of five-a-side football playing!
Gareth also plays in a number of other different groups
in and around Cardiff and South Wales.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
