The next Narberth Jazz event will be a celebration of 50 years of John Gibbon as a jazz drummer.

John is a very well known figure in the music scene, not only in Wales but throughout the UK. The Merthyr-born musician played with legendary jazz greats.

He will be accompanied by the great bass player Ollie Blanchflower and two upcoming new musicians, vocalist Lee Nathaniel and pianist Ross Hicks.

Lee Nathaniel is a jazz singer in South Wales, and a recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD). As a child she grew up listening to jazz and blues from singers such as; Nancy Wilson, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Hoping to bring you a varied set, Nathaniel will be performing repertoire from Swing and Blues, to Bossa-Nova and Samba.  

Ross Hicks is also recent graduate of the RWCMD, Ross is rapidly making a name for himself on the local jazz scene and beyond. For a young musician he exhibits an impressive level of maturity as a keyboard soloist and has already accrued a remarkable knowledge of jazz piano styles. Ross was part of the All Stars of Brecon Jazz sextet that appeared at the 2023 Brecon Jazz Festival, acquitting himself well and also revealing him to be a composer of considerable promise.

As for John Gibbon, you can read all about him at our sister paper’s website, the Brecon & Radnor Express.

The event will be held at the Plas Hotel, Narberth on Thursday, September 21, starting at 7.30pm. Visit the Narberth Jazz website for tickets.