Music at Bill’s Kitchen with Jazz Harp

Come and relive the era of swing with Ben Creighton Griffiths on harp and Joseph Van Parys on guitar. Expect to hear Swing classics, Django standards, and Bossa Nova during this exciting performance from two excellent young musicians based in South Wales – and experience a taster of what Ben's full French band, The Transatlantic Hot Club, will bring to the Assembly Rooms on 17th April 2026.  

Ben Creighton Griffiths 

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, Canada, 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), Swindon Symphony Orchestra, and Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming performances of the Concerto include the Welsh premiere with the Cardiff Philharmonic at the BBC Hoddinott Hall, The Grieg Hall, Alcester with the Stratford Upon Avon Symphony Orchestra, and in Tasmania with the Hobart City Band. He has taught workshops and masterclasses in jazz across the world and has been a guest tutor in the harp and trad music departments at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  

Upcoming appearances at the time of writing include his first concert tour to Australia/Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China), a return to Corsica with the Transatlantic Hot Club, and another UK tour with the Transatlantic Hot Club.  

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 and London.