Jazz night struck the right chord in new home
IT WAS an idea which came about after a bar owner noticed a distinct lack of jazz in Swansea. And now, 12 years on, audiences young and old are flocking to Uplands to get their weekly fix.
In 2010, Noah Redfern decided to start a jazz night at Noah’s Yard after the old Monkey bar in Swansea city centre, which has hosted one, closed down for good.
And with the help of the likes of the Dave Cottle Trio, Gething Liddington Quartet, Dick Hamer, Jango Haze, Elaina Hoss, Dom Norcross, Groucho Club, Tommy Harris Quartet, Paul Smith, Gary Phillips, Afternoon in Paris and legendary bassist Alun
Vaughan, the night has gone from strength to strength.
Mr Redfern said: “I felt that Uplands needed a jazz night. There used to be a successful jazz night on a Monday in the old Monkey cafe set up by Amanda Davey and Paul Dyke, and that went for quite a few years and was hugely successful.
“Monkey closed down, and I just felt there was something missing on a Monday, which is generally the most boring night of the week as not much happens.
“Swansea is blessed with some incredible jazz musicians, more so than Cardiff. We lead the way in the world of jazz more than Cardiff does, just with the amount of jazz bands we have here and the jazz scene. Dave Cottle is responsible for that and his father is responsible for that, and now Dave Cottle’s son is part of that.
“There’s three generations of jazz musicians from the Cottle family which have literally gone all over the world to spread their jazz expertise.
“Monday night was available and I actually saw a little jazz band playing at Bar Saint James, and during the interval I asked them to start playing for us, and they became the house band and it went from there.
“It was hugely successful and it has been jazz every Monday ever since, barring the pandemic. People loved it from the beginning and it’s a mixture of all ages – some of the oldest customers are in their eighties, some of the youngest are teenagers. It’s a night enjoyed by people of all ages of all backgrounds.”
The jazz evening takes place every Monday and consists of two 45-minute sets from 8.30pm until 10.30pm, with a different band performing every week, rotating between 10 different bands, with occasional guest artists. You can just turn up, and should arrive by around 8pm to get a good seat. On May 23 an event will be taking place to celebrate 12 years of jazz in Uplands at Noah’s Yard, starring the Grand Theatre’s head saxophonist Dick Hamer.
“It’s definitely put Uplands on the map for a weekly jazz night,” Mr Redfern said. “I am proud of what it has become, it’s my favourite night of the week. Ultimately, it is supporting our community as well.”
It is not the only jazz you can look forward to in the city. Swansea International Jazz Festival takes place from June 23-26, with ticketed shows at the Dylan Thomas Theatre and a free stroller programme in venues across the Maritime Quarter.