Gwena (CD) - RT Dixieband

This is the debut album by The RT Dixieband, which was formed back in 2013 by clarinetist and vocalist Rhys Taylor. When Rhys was just three years old he heard live jazz music for the first time, at the Cŵps tavern in Aberystwyth, by the ‘Coopers Jazz Band’, in which his father, Mike, played banjo. Having dreamed of forming his own jazz band for years, he ventured to form the band and since 2013 they have performed in all corners of Wales at festivals such as Tafwyl, Gwyl Nôl a ‘Mla’n, Tregaroc, the National Eisteddfod, on radio and television and at weddings and other functions and events. The high point so far would probably be the Brecon Jazz Festival in 2018.

After a turbulent period for everyone, in 2021, Rhys decided to bring all band members together again to perform and record their first album. The band includes Rhys on clarinet and vocals, Gethin Liddington on trumpet, Gareth Roberts on trombone, Nigel Hart on piano, Paul Hillman on double bass and Paul Shepherd on drums and they all came together at Acapela Studio, Pentyrch, to record Rhys’ arrangements of jazzed up well-known Welsh and international songs and music. Classics such as ‘Panama’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and ‘Stranger on the Shore’ sit side by side an original song, which gives the album its title, ‘Gwena’ (Smile), and brand new, infectious arrangements of Welsh favourites such as ‘Moliannwn’ and the sea shanty ‘Rownd yr Horn’.

Rhys dedicates this album, as a tribute, to all Welsh musicians, with special thanks to Gethin, Gareth, Nigel, Paul and Paul. 

Tracks -

01. Moliannwn

02. Lawr ar Lan y Mor

03. Panama

04. Gwena

05. I Wanna Be Like You

06. Ty ar y Mynydd

07. Stranger on the Shore

08. Rownd yr Horn

09. Sween Georgia Brown

10. The Saints.