Chris Hodgkins Quartet at the Llais Festival – A Celebration of Bay Jazz, Cardiff,12th October

The Butetown Bay Jazz Heritage Festival (BBJHF) is not just a music event; it’s a celebration of Tiger Bay’s rich jazz heritage.

Conceived by jazz singer and author Patti Flynn and jazz singer and educator Humie Webbe, this festival aims to educate and entertain the local and wider community about this rich (almost forgotten) musical heritage.

BBJHF celebrates 15 years since its inaugural event at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2009 and is proud to be part of the Llais Festival celebrating Bay Jazz! As its co-founder, Patti Flynn was recognised with a Purple Plaque for her achievements as an author, campaigner, and performer, which is proudly displayed at the WMC Cabaret entrance.

Get ready to be blown away by the unique music of the Bay, brought to you by some iconic musicians who have their roots in Cardiff Docklands and Tiger Bay.

As one of the original Bay Divas, sensational TV and international cabaret artist Jacky Webbe will perform her quartet led by Nigel Hart one of the most accomplished pianists and music directors in Wales. And that’s not all; Tiger Bay’s dynamic vocalist Li Harding will perform with her long-time collaborator, jazz guitarist-arranger Gary Phillips.

Chris Hodgkins Quartet will perform over the weekend and give a special talk about his life growing up in Cardiff and being mentored by Tiger Bay’s iconic jazz guitarist, Vic Parker.

We’re excited about the return of award-winning jazz guitarist and singer Ciyo Brown as one of the original BBJHF’s popular performers. He brings his unique blend of soulful jazz to the event, backed by an international group of musicians.

Leighton Jones is one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Wales.  Described as having ‘a voice that melts snow’, Leighton’s band includes internationally renowned drummer  Tiger Bay’s Aran Ahmun on drums, the legendary Geoff Eales on Piano and keyboard extraordinaire, and music producer Richard Dunn.

Cardiff born and based, over the past year, Lily Webbe has been performing and collaborating with a range of Welsh artists whilst developing her co-founded music collective “Source”. Her own sound sees her bring a melting pot of MOBO influences from her childhood to deliver a captivating R&B/Soul sound. At the forefront of her lyricism is mental health, love, and the ways of the mind, written from her open and honest perspective.

Alongside this great music, we will be marking what would have been the 90th birthday year of former Mount Stuart School Head Teacher Betty Campbell with a (to be announced) special performance!

Saturday 12 October

Session 1, 4pm

Chris Hodgkins Quartet
Jacky Webbe