THE latest communication from Southport Melodic Jazz confirms that their fourth Jazz On A Winter's Weekend, scheduled to run from Friday, February 1, to Sunday, February 3, will certainly be the most ambitious in the event's short but hugely-successful history.

This one will be different to its three predecessors in that eight of the 11 two-set concerts will be staged in Southport Arts Centre, which has a 400-seat theatre, plus a studio. The three late gigs will be at the SMJ regular haunt, The Royal Clifton Hotel, just minutes away on the resort's promenade.

It is no exaggeration to say that the talent on offer should attract capacity audiences as, besides the cream of UK musicians, guitarist Russell Malone's Quartet and trumpet star Eddie Henderson, who are "faces" on the jazz scene in New York, will be among the headline attractions.

These include Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra with Eddie Henderson; the Claire Martin Quintet; Ben Clatworthy/Neil Yates Quintet; The SMJ Swingshift Big Band with special guests Mark Nightingale, Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams; bass player Arnie Somoygi's "Ambulance" with Eddie Henderson; Russell Malone's Quartet; The Pete Churchill Quartet, featuring tenor sax legend Bobby Wellins, and The Jim Hart/Roger Beaujolais Quartet.

There will be special one-day workshops with drummer Clark Tracey and tenor saxophonist Ben Clatworthy, plus a repeat of last year's jazz choral workshop with Pete Churchill, professor of jazz studies at The Guildhall School of Music.

I know that February seems a fair way off, but it isn't, so I recommend you contact Southport Melodic Jazz as soon as possible for more information and tickets on 01704 541790.

l A drummer pal of mine, whose opinion I respect, recently caught Bolton's newest big swing band, "The Managers", led by twins Jay and Ben Shepherd, in concert at The Albion pub in Moor Lane.

He was very impressed and intends to see them again when next they appear in public, at The Dog and Partridge in Manor Street, on Friday, December 14, and back at The Albion on Sunday, December 23.

He strongly advises other jazz fans join him as he is adamant that "The Managers", most of whose personnel are in their teens and early 20s, is a band on its way up.