Jack Mac is performing at The Muse on April 12th for our Springtime Jazz Day Festival – Tickets are available now!

Q: First of all, who is Jack Mac?

Well, I’m a full-time professional musician, self-employed. I’m originally from South England but moved to Cardiff for my undergrad in maths and music at Cardiff University. I ended up sticking around because I love the city. I also did a jazz master’s at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and I’ve been gigging professionally for the last ten years—mostly jazz, some funk. I’ve had a residency on Monday nights at an award-winning cocktail bar in Cardiff for about ten years now.

Q: Can you tell us about the group performing at Brecon?

The band performing at Brecon is technically my brass group, Full House Brass Band. It’s a New Orleans-style brass outfit that draws inspiration from groups like Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and New Orleans Nightcrawlers. The music is loud, brassy, and just plain fun to play, listen to, and enjoy. It’s all about bringing that New Orleans energy to the stage.

Q: How did you get into jazz? Was it something you were interested in from a young age?

I started playing the saxophone around seven or eight. I saw the Blues Brothers when I was three or four, and though I didn’t get the adult jokes, I was hooked by Blue Lou Marini’s sax playing during Aretha Franklin’s concert scene. Jazz itself came later—I grew up with blues records from my parents, but I did have a Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster album with the Oscar Peterson Trio that I loved.

Most of my formal training was classical, so going to the Royal Welsh for a jazz master’s was me trying to fill in that gap. My love for jazz has only grown over the last 10–15 years, and I’ve really dived into artists like Dave Holland, Chris Potter, and Joshua Redman.

Q: What makes live music special to you?

 For me, it’s all about the magic of live music. There’s something special about the unpredictability and controlled chaos of a live performance. I love embracing that chaos and seeing what can happen when you trust the musicians around you. It’s something you can’t recreate, no matter how good AI gets or how polished things are in a studio. It’s always about that raw, magical moment when everything just clicks.

Q: You’ve mentioned a wide range of musical influences. How does hip-hop fit into your performances?

Hip-hop has always been around for people my age, but my real connection to it came from a funk band I like called Galactic. They did a collaborative album with hip-hop artists, and that mix of jazz, funk, and hip-hop really resonated with me. I love how hip-hop artists blend genres and how jazz musicians are playing a big part in modern hip-hop.

People often criticize hip-hop for sampling and “stealing” music, but to me, it’s no different from how jazz musicians reinterpret standards. The musicality involved in hip-hop is just as complex and creative.

Q: Do you think jazz is growing in popularity?

Jazz is definitely different now. It’s much wider and more mainstream than it was before. Acts like Ezra Collective are bringing jazz to a broader audience. My dad always says jazz stopped being popular when it stopped being dance music, but I think it’s making its way back into the mainstream now. It’s just a different kind of jazz than what you’d find in a traditional jazz club.

Q: What does Brecon Jazz Festival mean to you?

I was surprised to find such a passionate jazz scene in a small town like Brecon. But honestly, small towns in the UK often have the best jazz scenes. The community feeling and the town-wide enthusiasm during the festival are incredible. Brecon Jazz Festival feels like the whole town comes alive. And it’s not just fringe stuff—it’s a proper jazz festival with top-notch musicians and international acts.

I’ve performed at Brecon Jazz Festival a few times over the years. I’ve marched through Brecon with my brass group, played with my New Orleans quintet for the club, and performed at venues like The Muse and the Waterfront area. I’ve probably played there every two or three years since my university days, including times with the Cardiff Uni Big Band back in the early 2010s.

Q: What can attendees expect from your set at the April-Spring Jazz Festival?

They can expect loud, brassy, funky music that’s just a lot of fun. I’m a big fan of controlled chaos. There’s a lot of improvisation involved, but I trust the musicians I work with, and that spontaneity can lead to some truly magical moments.

Q: Are you working on any new music?

Yes! I recently released an EP with my hip-hop group, Jumpster. My funk band, Jack Mac’s Funk Pack, recorded a live album, which should be out in the next few months. Plus, we’re heading into the studio later this year to record some new original stuff, so there’s a lot on the way.

Q: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?

Alan Toussaint or Trombone Shorty. Alan Toussaint was like the Motown producer of New Orleans, and Trombone Shorty is one of the few trombone players with that killer sound. Both would be amazing to work with.

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to young musicians trying to break into the scene?

Play with as many people as you can, both good and bad. Learn from bad gigs—they teach you just as much as good ones. And be nice and reliable. Skill matters, but personality and professionalism are just as important.

Catch Jack Mac and the Full House Brass Band at the Brecon Jazz Festival’s April-Spring Jazz Festival. It’s going to be a performance full of energy, spontaneity, and great music!