LLareggub visits the home of Jazz
A North Wales brass band has just returned from playing the biggest free music event in America. Band Pres Llareggub spent a "memorable" stint in the US after being invited to perform at the famous French Quarter Festival staged in the international home of jazz.
The nine-piece brass outfit is well known in their native North Wales, having performed at events including Portmeirion's Festival No.6and the National Eisteddfodas well as at a variety of pubs, clubs and venues in previous years. But the band has now managed to reach a brand new audience across the pond.
Three years ago, the group was thrilled to have been invited to perform at the festival, which is staged every year in front of 700,000 fans in New Orleans. However, it wasn't until this year that the musicians managed to realise that dream and make to trip to the international home of jazz.
Owain Roberts, the trombonist and director of the band, described the experience as "tiring and emotional, but memorable". He added, "Going to New Orleans had always been a goal of ours - it's the 'home' of jazz and that is where we get most of our inspiration from.
"People of New Orleans were so warm and friendly. We were met with such a positive reception and they absolutely loved our music! We were quite surprised to see that so many of them knew about Wales!"
Band Pres Llareggub formed in 2015 and took its name from the fictional village portrayed in Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood. Since then, the band has risen to become one of the most popular bands in the Welsh music scene. Famed for mixing traditional Welsh brass sounds mixed with vibrant jazz tones, the nine-piece brass band is made-up of musicians from Bangor, Caernarfon, Wrexhamand Llanddona on Anglesey.
"The Hot 8 Brass Band, who performed with George Ezra at the Brit Awards this year, also came to see us, which was a highlight," stateded Owain. "But the biggest highlight of the trip was definitely going to visit The Roots of Music band- an organisation that teaches music and the traditions of brass bands to keep children and young adults off the streets.
"Although it has been almost fourteen years, the effects of Hurricane Katrina are still prevalent in different communities in the city, so jazz acts as an escapism for issues relating to poverty or crime. We performed and conducted a few lessons. We hope to continue helping them and are even thinking about inviting them over to perform in Wales someday."
The band are now planning their next trip to New Orleans and will appear at a number of festivals across the country including at The National Eisteddfod.
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