JAZZ

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 9th Year

Issue

Issue No.

5

Date Released

Jan 1956

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1ALARM
2. 2EMERGENCY WINDER
3. 3SAFETY BELT
4. 4JAZZ

Story

Story No. within this Issue

4 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: the third annual Miner’s Jazz Band festival at Llandilo, South Wales
NCB Commentary - The quiet of the little Carmarthenshire village of Llandilo is disturbed for one of its big afternoons of the year.
From all over the Welsh valleys, bus loads of enthusiasts converge on Llandilo to see and take part in a contest which, though only recently established, has already achieved a striking popularity.
Jazz bands in South Wales mean something rather special. On the hill sides above the town, gaily dressed competitots gather together before the big march parade.
Miners and their families in finery of their own design and making prepare for long months ahead to be jodged on costume, marching ability and the quality of the music they make.
Comb and paper instruments backed up by drums contrast strangely with the rich uniforms as the big parade starts to swing down the High Street.
From Cwmsven here come the Jersey Mexicans.
The Teile Majorettes are a local juvenile band.
The Star and Crescent come from Treherbert, while the exotically dressed Harem Band come from across the valleys at Maerdy.
From Pontypool the slick stepping Top Hatters bring up the rear of the procession.
The main event of the afternoon, of course, is the judging and marching display held on Lord Dynevor’s grounds.
NCB Summary - The story is that Jazz Bands became popular in the Welsh villages during the years of the depression, when miners had time on their hands and small means with which to indulge in their hobbies. For the cost of trimming home-made uniforms and equipping the members with comb and paper, the marching bands brought colour and music into lives which only too frequently offered little but drabness.
Competition between the bands sprung up and juvenile bands were recruited to take in boys and girls from miners’ families.
Today the Jazz Band Movement flourishes and is yet another expression of the pride of mining folk in their families and their community.

Researcher Comments

Records on 5 December 1955.

Keywords

Music and dance; Celebrations and festivals; Mining

Locations

Wales

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board