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Abersoch Jazz Festival 2005 - reviewed // Click here to view Images
Top quality music, the return of hundreds of jazz fans, a very supportive local community, brilliant blue
skies and sunshine all combined to ensure a taste of 'New Orleans' came to Abersoch the weekend of the 9th - 12th
June for another memorable Jazz Festival. "It was like living in Abersoch but being on holiday", said Councillor Wyn
Williams. The event was a truly international affair with musicians and visitors from Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden,
Germany, and New Orleans (USA) - all were very impressed with the event and the beautiful area. Musicians from all over the
UK also provided a wide range of Jazz styles, from trio to big band, Django Rheinhart to Rhythm and Blues - something to please
everyone. The streets were lined with people of all ages to see the Mardi-Gras style parade lead by the four much loved Luisitano stallions from the
Pendlebury Llyn Riding School. This year the parade had grown to two bands and even more beautifully decorated hats and brollies in the 'second line'.
More children take part in the parade and other activities at the Abersoch Jazz Festival than in most other similar festivals around the country. The Village Hall was an excellent venue over the weekend with wonderful music and the 'local young mums' selling their famous afternoon teas with
homemade cakes - raising a further £217 for Ysgol Abersoch. Saturday afternoon started with an exciting new venture - the Youth Concert/Workshop - facilitated
by the well known musician and composer Huw Warren, from Porthmadog. At least 25 children, between 4 and 18 years of age and playing various instruments, participated.
They played individually to begin with and were then taught, in sections, a new tune which they finally played fabulously as a full band. It was amazing, spine-tingling
stuff- especially when, for the first time two Jazz harpists combined with the rhythm section - all having fun and making great music together. A record number of 165 Jazz Posters, created by the children from Abersoch, Llanbedrog, Mynytho and Sarn Bach Primary Schools, line the walls of the Hall and will
be exhibited there for 3 weeks. They are definitely worth a visit. Concentration at the Tuesday Yoga Class was poor this week due to the distraction caused by these art
works. All are winners but the judges have the unenviable task of having to choose winners from each school category. The Gospel Service, dedicated to the memory of Jeremy
Meyrick, was led by the Rev Janice Gourdie. It was enriched by the readings, the soloists and musicians, a congregation in full voice, and star performances by the Sunday
School children, led by Anna Jones, - there was hardly a dry eye to be seen. A collection raised £421 for the Chapel. As usual all the venues 'pulled the stops out' and did us proud. It was great to be part of the opening night of 5Degrees West and a pleasure to have the Golf Club Marquee
back on the circuit. Especially pleased was the little robin who enjoyed the music, company and crumbs so much he refused to leave! The signs were missing from the fleet of 'Jazz Buses', so all the white vans in the area were consistently being mistakenly flagged down! The buses provided
the usual invaluable service ferrying 'jazzers' around the venues. The festival came to a close at three venues on the Sunday night - with lots of dancing in the aisles to the exhilarating music. The headline jump/jive band,
King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, gave their gig a 5+ mark out of a possible 5. They thought the audience was terrific and begged to be asked back next year. All in all the festival was a huge success, thanks to wonderful bands and the hospitality of the local community. However none of this could have taken place without the financial
support from sponsorships, grants and donations, and the voluntary stewards. Grateful thanks to all concerned. To purchase the special 2005 Festival CD (£10) phone: 0175871 2929
All tracks were donated by the musicians, and monies raised are to help secure the future of our festival.
Many thanks to Turtle Photography for the use of their photos. ------------------------------- Abersoch Jazz Festival Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and all who have supported this Festival :
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