2.30pm

Ben Creighton Griffiths - Harp
Joseph Van Parys - Guitar
Benedict Stephens - Bass

Come and relive the era of swing with The Ben Creighton Griffiths quartet. Led by Ben Creighton Griffiths on harp, this performance will feature Joseph Van Parys on guitar and Benedict Stephens on bass. Expect to hear Swing classics, Django standards, and Bossa Nova during this exciting performance from three excellent musicians based in South Wales

Benjamin Creighton Griffiths is an Internationally touring jazz and classical harpist based in Wales. He made his International debut at the 2004 1er Concours International de Harpe in Nantes, France where, aged 7, he came second in the Under 18 division. In 2006 he won the Under 13 Division of the Wales International Harp Festival before going on to win the 2008 Junior Lily Laskine competition in Paris, winning a concert harp in the process. 

Originally classically trained with Catrin Finch, Elinor Bennett, and Ann Griffiths, he now specialises in jazz both as a soloist and with his bands – the Transatlantic Hot Club and Chube. His career has taken him across the world including to America, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, India, Brazil, and across Europe and has seen him collaborate with excellent musicians in both the classical and jazz world including Dennis Rollins MBE (jazz trombone), Tatiana Eva-Marie (vocals), Adrien Chevalier (jazz violin), and Catrin Finch (harp). 

As well as a performer he is a composer, most recently developing a concert schedule for his own Concerto for Jazz Harp & Symphony Orchestra. This has included performances with the The Chandos Symphony Orchestra (who commissioned the work), The Cardiff Philharmonic, Stratford on Avon Symphony Orchestra, Swindon Symphony Orchestra, and Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra. It received its first international performance in Tasmania with the Student Music Collective of Tasmania University. 

Upcoming appearances at the time of writing include a UK and Corsican tour with the Transatlantic Hot Club, a UK tour with Tatiana Eva-Marie, and a first visit to Poland for the Polish Harp Societies European Congress. 

Benedict Stephens is an award winning bass player based in Cardiff, Wales. He began developing his style of bass playing from an early age playing in rock bands with his friends at school, and later realised a strong relationship with his electric bass allowing him to pursue his passion of performing jazz music. 

Growing up in Manchester, his interest in music started with rock music, and he later progressed his interest in jazz and funk music during his studies at Cardiff University with local legends Huw Warren (pianist) and Jason Charles Rogers (bass player). During this time he would become heavily influenced by the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Christian McBride and Herbie Hancock. Since graduating, Benedict has been performing regularly around the UK with his jazz band Yatra Quartet, funk group Calathea, rock band Up and Under, and function pop band The Laylads

Joseph Van Parys    Joseph Van Parys is a guitarist from North Yorkshire with a passion for swinging jazz. He’s played in and around South Wales/England, becoming a well known jazz guitarist on the scene after completing his studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His particular focus is on the swing era of jazz, and his creative soloing and sensitive accompaniment alike has been praised by audiences across the South of the UK. 

“A true virtuoso on the instrument” - The Jazz Mann
“Harp sensation” - Nation Cymru

“The musicianship on this is off the scale” - Adam Walton, BBC Wales Introducing