CHELTENHAM Jazz Festival, which returns next April, has announced its first wave of acts.

The festival will have its trademark mix of international jazz stars, homegrown talent and up-and-coming new artists.

Making his Cheltenham debut is the Grammy-nominated US trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, who brings a nine-piece band to the Festival to perform music from new album Stretch Music.

Also making the trip across the pond are Tim Berne’s Snakeoil, a New York-based band led by influential saxophonist Tim Berne, and the Becca Stevens Band, a group led by the rising star singer-songwriter.

The Festival will also host the UK premiere of Let It Be Told, a new project by saxophonist Julian Arguelles. Featuring the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, fellow Loose Tubes alumnus Django Bates on piano and Julian’s brother Steve on percussion, the project explores the music of South African exiles.

Other artists confirmed to perform include the Giovanni Guidi Trio, a piano trio tipped by many for international success, Omar Sosa’s Quarteto AfroCubano, the afro-Cuban quartet led by pianist Omar Sosa, and Rom Schaerer Eberle, a trio who will perform new material to launch their forthcoming album Après nous le déluge.

Festival director Ian George said: “We’re extremely happy to have been able to follow on from the success of last year’s festival and include such a broad array of incredible artists in our initial announcement for CJF 2016.

"We’re once again looking to engage with as wide an audience as possible and will present a varied programme that offers a series of exciting performances from some of the best artists and groups the genre has to offer."

  •  The Cheltenham Jazz Festival is from Wednesday, April 27- Monday, May 2 2016. The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival line-up will be announced in early 2016. Go to www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/ for more