Swansea International Jazz Festival
Various venues, Swansea
Thurs 14 Sun-17 June
The biggest jazz fest in Wales waves in the return of summer to Swansea for the fifth year running. Come mid-June, the Maritime Quarter erupts in a flurry of brass squeals and moody basslines as a vibrant mix of 50 events takes place over 16 different venues, featuring artists from all sorts of corners of the jazz umbrella.
Alongside a host of homegrown Welsh and British acts, such as Swansea-born, world-renowned bassist Laurence Cottle and his All-Star Big Band of London-based groovers and shakers, the fest welcomes big-league jazz giants from the world over. Brazilian guitarist Daniel Marques will display his own compositions and plenty of the classics; Dutch singer Judith Nijland and Czech guitarist Libor Šmoldas pay tribute to Wes Montgomery, Italian trumpeter Jim Rotondi is a modern titan of the New York scene.
Louis Prima Jr, son of the legend, and his band The Witnesses fly in from the States to pay homage to Prima Sr’s work and the Jump Jive era in general, while the catalogue of Stevie Wonder is the subject of ‘Some Kinda Wonderful’ from saxophonist Derek Nash and vocalist Noel McCalla. Beyond ticketed events at the Dylan Thomas Centre and Dylan Thomas Theatre, the surrounding Swansea marina will support 40-odd free performances and workshops in a four-day musical upheaval. JASON MACHLAB
Tickets: £10-£25 per ticketed event; fringe events free. Info: www.jazzwales.com