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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 with their own, unique, exciting brand of Jazz. All of the quintet are acclaimed bandleaders in their own right butin 2006 they got together under the leadership of Gareth to record their long-awaited debut album “The Attack of the Killer Penguins”

Since recording this album the band have gone from strength to strength. In 2007 they were one of three bands selected to receive a Jazz Services Promoter's choice award and as a result of this they went on to perform at many of the UK's most prestigious Jazz Festivals. In the winter of 2009 they completed a very successful UK tour.

All of the quintet are established players on the Welsh Jazz scene. 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. They 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.

  GARETH AND CHRIS O'CONNOR
 
       
Wales Jazz Composers Orchestra
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 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
  HEAVY QUARTET ALBUM
 
 
Other Bands
BYRON JONES BIG BAND

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...

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.

 


ROB SMITH
LI HARDING
 
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