Here's a brief overview of what I can recall from the club activities over the last few months and some personal highlights.

Following the success of the mini-festival with a knockout gig by Peter King, in October and November we were treated to some more scintillating alto saxophone giants in Nathaniel Facey and Tony Kofi. Facey's skittering lines and deft touch often recall Eric Dolphy's sometimes angular 'out there' playing, as well as the bop of Parker and 'sheets of sound' of Coltrane. As ever, Phil Mead, Dave Moses and John Gibbon provided sterling accompaniment, Phil demonstrating just what a truly fine player he is. Tony Kofi produces an enormous sound and together with the Jim Barber trio, blew up a veritable storm back in November. Frighteningly fleet fingers and remarkable breath control gives Kofi the power to shout passionately at speed, and whisper delicately in his ballad playing. A terrific gig. Rico Tomasso provided a wonderful night of homage to the greats, especially his hero and friend, Louis Armstrong. Rico has a beautifully bouncy style that looks forward as well as back and captures superbly, the styles of the earlier jazz trumpeters as well as the more mainstream greats, I can certainly hear Louis, Bix, Wild Bill, and Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton in there too. It was great to have a blow and Fat Boy Slim aka Fred Cat Anderson even got to have a picture, see his gallery here

There is no arguiment that the TJS website is now superb! I miss the posters of the more recent gigs, however. Could Tryfan be persuaded to update these and carry on the good work, since a) they are a good record of just how much Ceri is acheiving here, b) a strong signal to other musicians that they can expect a continuing gallery and for their talent and c) supporters could download them locally or beyond for greater promotional effort.

I'm pleased to see that the Torfaen County Borough website (Verity Hiscocks)  has agreed to feature our gigs in future too. Since late June 2009 there have been 17 gigs at Sebastopol, with virtually no financial loss against a background of  deep economic recession. For less than a tenner anyone can have a great night out any Friday at the Club listening to top quality music and enjoying a couple of pints.

I reckon that we will soon be seeing even more jazz  talent at the club, and from further afield than eve before. Well done Ceri! But folks he can't do it all on his own, so help spread the word!

Roger Coghill (aka the worst alto sax player in the Valleys)

Hi there. Comgratulations to everyone that has contributed to this club's revival during  this year. Whoever would have thought that we would have our own festival to enjoy in just a few weeks hence. I am looking forward to a great weekend and many more exciting times ahead.

Thanks to Ceri and Tom and the bands for a great night. Wonderful to see just how much talent is on our

doorstep. You even sent my son to sleep! 

It's been a long time since big Mike Markey climbed the stairs up to the club room and along with ace guitarist Nick Jones the wait was well worth it. Around 30 of us witnessed a bagful of songs of love, jealousy, pain, heartbreak, humour, alcohol and anything else those great bluesmen and women wrote about. Mike's voice switched between city and country styles effortlessly as his harp seamlessly punctuated the vocal lines. Nicks driving guitar work, whether on acoustic or slide was of the highest order, particularly impressive was the unison work with some of the vocal lines. Tunes such as Kidney Stew and It Should Have Been Me were belted out with vim and vigour and the enthusiastic applause from the knowledgable audience underlined their universal enjoymentof a thoroughly entertaining night.