Jen Wilson Ensemble - 'Twelve Poems' The Dylan Thomas Jazz Suite

Twelve Poems: The Dylan Thomas Jazz Suite is a bold and imaginative album composed by Professor Jen Wilson and performed by the Jen Wilson Ensemble. Inspired by the poetry and lyrical power of Dylan Thomas, the suite sets twelve of his most evocative works to original jazz arrangements — blending literary heritage with improvisational brilliance.

The piece was born out of the creative relationships developed through Jazz Heritage Wales and is a powerful example of how Welsh culture, history, and jazz can intersect. It also reflects Jen Wilson’s lifelong mission to reclaim and reframe Welsh identity through the lens of jazz.

You’re currently listening to “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” — one of the suite’s most affecting pieces, offering a new musical interpretation of Thomas’s timeless words.

The Jen Wilson Ensemble:

Jen Wilson (Piano) – Founder of Jazz Heritage Wales, composer of the suite, and lifelong advocate for cultural inclusion through jazz.

Margot Morgan (Vocals) – Acclaimed jazz singer and long-time collaborator of Jen Wilson, bringing deep emotion and clarity to the suite’s vocal performances.

Cris Haines (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Ocarina) – A versatile musician with a lyrical tone and sensitivity, whose trumpet and flugelhorn work add both depth and brightness to the arrangements.

Paula Gardiner (Double Bass) – One of Wales’s leading jazz musicians, educator, and patron of Jazz Heritage Wales. She brings elegance and grounded rhythm to the suite’s harmonic structure.

Chris Ryan (Alto, Tenor, Soprano Saxes, Clarinet) – Known for his multi-instrumental fluency and dynamic improvisation, Chris’s woodwind textures enrich the suite’s emotional range.

Mark O’Connor (Drums) – A skilled and expressive drummer whose subtle yet powerful playing supports and propels each piece with precision and nuance.

Recent Performances

The suite was most recently performed at the renowned Brecon Jazz Festival, reaffirming its place in contemporary Welsh jazz performance and continuing Jen Wilson’s vision of making jazz both accessible and culturally resonant.