WEDNESDAY December 10th, 8pm : "A Christmas Story" Richard Burton JAZZ SUITE, Arts WIng @Grand Theatre

Swansea Jazz Club, Arts Wing @Grand Theatre Swansea December 10th, 8pm

Richard Burton ‘A Christmas Story Jazz Suite Composed Dave Cottle

The Dave Cottle Quintet & Narrator Griff Harries

‘Celebrating Richard Burtons 100th Birthday year’

‘A Christmas Story’ written by Richard Burton in 1965

On Christmas Eve, eight year-old Richard is living with his older sister in Port Talbot and is taken out of the house by his Uncle 'Mad Dan' to go and sing with the miners round the bonfire, because his sister is upstairs gravely ill …or is she? Perhaps young Richard will be getting an unexpected ‘prezzy-wezzy' this Christmas! 

Written by Burton with ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas very much in mind, it look back at a Christmas Eve from his child hood in Port Talbot. 

Swansea Jazz Musician Dave Cottle has composed a jazz suite to complement the piece. Dave is the house pianist at Swansea Jazz Club and the organiser of the weekly events at the club for almost 30 years. Dave has played as a sideman with 100’s of International Jazz artists and band over a long career in music. Often see in the house band at the Ronnie Scotts weekly Jazz jam nights he founded the Swansea International Jazz Festival in 2014

Griff Harries (narrator) As a musician, Griff’s career has taken him all over the UK, Western Europe and on the Eastern seaboard of North America. He is the founder / director of The Chamber Orchestra of Wales and for well over a decade, he oversaw the pantomime seasons at The Grand Theatre. But he is best known for his many years as a broadcaster with Swansea Sound, especially his time hosting The Late Show. You can hear him in Welsh and English on Welsh Coast Radio. As a fluent Welsh speaker, Griff is proud to be a Member of the Gorsedd of The Bards at The National Eisteddfod of Wales for his services to music and the arts.

Dave Cottle (Piano/Trumpet) Griff Harries (Narrator) 

Sarah Meek (Vocals)

Dan Newberry (Sax)

Alun Vaughan (Bass) 

& Paul Smith (Drums) 

The jazz suite is the first half, following intermission the Quintet & Narrator present ‘Christmas with a Jazz twist’