Jamie Cullum to star at Cheltenham International Jazz Festival (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Jamie Cullum to star at Cheltenham International Jazz Festival

THE ninth Cheltenham International Jazz Festival comes to town from April 29-May 3, bringing with it some of the hottest names in jazz, as well as providing a platform for some of the best new talent.

These include Brit Award nominee Jamie Cullum, the big jazz story of the past year; afro-rock and reggae star Courtney Pine, fresh from his 2004 Devotion tour; singer and former actress Jacqui Dankworth, daughter of jazz legends John Dankworth and Cleo Laine; charismatic singer Cassandra Wilson; the Hermeto Pascoal Anglo-Brazilian Big Band; Django Bates and Tim Garland with Earthworks Underground; graceful Norwegian singer Silje Nergaard and many, many more.

Taking up the role as this year's artist-in-residence is the British pianist John Taylor, a major contributor to the jazz scene since the 1970s.

He will perform in three different contexts during the Festival - a solo piano set, a Big Band set and as part of a special one-off collaboration entitled the John Taylor International Quartet.

There's the Jerwood Rising Stars programme which is devoted to presenting and promoting up-and-coming jazz stars countrywide, late night jazz clubs at the Everyman Theatre and early morning breakfast shows, and, of course the Jazz Festival Fringe.

"The Festival brings the very best in contemporary jazz from around the world to Cheltenham. With this year's all-star line-up and plenty of new music and venues, there should be something in the programme to interest everyone," said Festival organiser Dominic Hamilton.

Tickets, brochures and information from the box office on 01242 227979.