Hot 6 the toast of Sacramento (From Penarth Times)

Hot 6 the toast of Sacramento

A PENARTH band is celebrating international success after playing at the largest jazz festival in the world.

The Keith Little Hot Six played at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee - the only band from the UK to do so.

They flew to San Francisco and then went on the Sacramento, the state capital of California, for what they hope will be the first of many such jaunts.

Waving Welsh flags at the airport, they were met by a party from the festival and taken to a luxury hotel where they stayed for a fortnight.

Band leader Keith Little said: "The first two days were free and we took advantage of the great weather to travel up to San Francisco.

"Sacramento still has an old part of the town that is like the old Western days with boardwalks, saloon bars and horses and carriages.

"A bar called Fanny Ann's became a 'home from home' for us."

Partying was the order of the day as they met other bands people from all over the world.

After some days, the festival began in earnest and some 300,000 fans descended on the town.

Keith said: "We were given a tremendous reception in all the venues where we played. "They gave three performances a day, some of which were in concert halls and others at vast outside venues holding up to 2000 people."

The Keith Little Hot Six was chosen from 105 other British bands who applied - but it was the only UK band invited.

For more information on Penarth's internationally acclaimed jazz band, log onto www.keithlittlehotsix.co.uk