Trumpeter, Tomos Williams tours Wales with one additional performance in London with the third and final instalment of his ground-breaking Cwmwl Tystion project between Thursday 30th May - Saturday 8th June 2024.
International musicians Melvin Gibbs (USA) and Nguyên Lê (France/Vietnam) join Welsh vocalists Eadyth Crawford and Mared Williams alongside Mark O'Connor on drums with live visuals from Simon Proffitt for an immersive live performance entitled Cwmwl Tystion III / Empathy, exploring Welsh identity and history.
Both Melvin Gibbs and Nguyên Lê are giants on the international jazz scene and their involvement in the project is a real coup. Bringing musicians of this quality and reputation to tour Wales has always been a driving force for Tomos, and their willingness to be involved speaks to the serious intent of the project.
Tomos says: “I first saw Melvin Gibbs perform at the legendary Tonic in New York's Lower East Side in 2001, and came across his band Harriet Tubman a few years later. Harriet Tubman and their avant-rock political music have been a direct influence on the creation of 'Cwmwl Tystion', so to have Melvin agree to come to Wales and participate in this final instalment is incredible and a real privilege . No one else plays the electric bass quite like him. While I've also followed Nguyên Lê's career for decades, having seen him perform numerous times with Trilok Gurtu at the Brecon Jazz Festival and Tommy Smith and Kenny Wheeler to name a few. He'll bring his fusion chops and world-jazz aesthetic to the music. Interestingly, Melvin and Nguyên have never performed together, so this will be a world first on Welsh soil”.
“Mared and Eadyth are also two of the leading lights in a new generation of Welsh vocalists, who are fearless creators, so I'm also excited about sharing a stage with them".
The first iteration of Cwmwl Tystion – Cwmwl Tystion/Witness toured in 2019 while Cwmwl Tystion II / Riot! toured in 2021 featuring two giants of the UK jazz scene: Soweto Kinch and Orphy Robinson.
Cwmwl Tystion III / Empathy will be an augmented power-trio and will perform a newly composed 'Empathy Suite' incorporating elements of jazz, rock, the avant-garde and Welsh folk music. The name 'Cwmwl Tystion' is derived from a poem by the great Welsh poet and pacifist Waldo Williams. Deeply inspired by the work of Wadada Leo Smith, the third and final iteration of Cwmwl Tystion promises to be a land-mark in Welsh jazz.
Tour Dates
The tour will encompass all areas of Wales with the first performance being in Pontio, Bangor on Thursday 30th May, followed by Ty Pawb, Wrexham (31st May), and Theatr y Werin, Aberystwyth (Saturday 1st June). The following week will see performances at the Lost ARC, Rhayader (June 5th) , Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tudful ( June 6th) , The Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD, Cardiff (Friday 7th June) finishing the tour with a performance at Cafe OTO, London (June 8th).
'The Cwmwl Tystion Empathy Suite' has been funded by Tŷ Cerdd, and the tour is made possible by generous Arts Council of Wales financial support.