SpanJazz returns with Hot Club De Paris, a vintage evening of Hot Club music with Gypsy Jazz musicians on Thursday, April 20, at the Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth.

The evening will be host to an intriguing and unique blend of musicians, including the ever-popular Jean Louis Raimbaud, band leader and founder of the Aberystwyth Gypsy Swing Band ‘Chocolat’. He is joined by Scottish Gypsy Jazz guitarist David Lloyd, Grant Smaldon on the double bass and Carmarthenshire violinist Norman Roberts.

In his 20s, Jean-Louis spent most weekends travelling from Angers up to Montmartre in Paris, never wanting to miss the amazing Gypsy guitar duo Maurice Ferret and Joseph Pouville. Jean-Louis has been in Aberystwyth now for 20 years. In that time he has tried many different styles of jazz, but has always come back to the ‘Music of Montmartre’. His instrument of choice? A Gypsy Jazz guitar, of course.

David Lloyd moved to Aberystwyth recently, and in the last few months he has been working with Jean-Louis, developing their joint Gypsy Jazz repertoire. Playing together as a quartet, we can expect a taste of Biel Ballester’s compositions and Bossa Nova tunes, think Django Rheinhardt and Stephan Grapelli with a Welsh accent.

This unique evening of Gypsy Jazz music is not to be missed.

Span Arts’’ long-running jazz monthly takes place in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere at the wonderful Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth. With real ales and a meal available and great foot-tapping music. Starts 8 pm.