Pair jazz up a homage to Burton

WHEN two of Swansea's finest decide to team-up, you can expect something very special.

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By special, I mean a world premiere and it's all part of a wonderful year of tributes to Richard Burton.

Musician and broadcaster Griff Harries has played a key role in many of the tribute events which have marked Richard Burton's 100th birthday year, most notably as the chief tour guide leading this year's birthplace and childhood trails to celebrate the great Pontrhydyfen-born actor.

Dave Cottle, meanwhile, needs no introduction to fans of jazz in Swansea. He's Mr Jazz in our city.

So, when Messrs Harries and Cottle get together, you can expect something dazzling.

Wednesday night (December 10th at 8pm in the Arts Wing of the Grand Theatre, Swansea) sees the first public performance of A Christmas Story - Jazz Suite, composed by Dave Cottle and played by The Dave Cottle Quintet, with narration by Griff Harries.

I interrupted one of the final rehearsals for the jazz suite premiere to find out more about the project. The original idea came from Griff, who explained: “I suppose that, initially, it touched a spark in my mind because I've been the guide for the Burton trails all year.

“In this centenary of Burton’s birth, I did an awful lot of research into the actor. It was a real labour of love. It wasn’t a task at all, as it was so absorbing.

Griff Harries

“I came across this short story of Burton’s, which is a touching memoir of a young boy's Christmas in Port Talbot. It's very much autobiographical in tone.