ENTREPRENEURS prepared to put their money into musical productions, particularly jazz, are these days pretty thin on the ground, as the prospects of breaking even, let alone making money, have to be rated questionable, if not remote.

However, there are still enthusiasts ready to underpin enterprises connected with the music they love and Tom and Chris Baron, who live in Blackpool, are shining examples.

They are the driving force behind the annual Swinging Jazz Party, which brings a host of internationally-famous musicians to the seaside town for a four-day feast of mainstream jazz, which offers aficionados the opportunity to enjoy concerts and small group sessions of the highest quality.

This year, the event will again be held at Blackpool Hilton and though the dates, Friday, October 3, to Monday, October 6, may seem aeons away, they aren't, given that time seems to be whizzing by.

Having taken a look at the list of musicians who have agreed to play, I imagine the world and his wife will want to be there.

It includes: Randy Sandke, Randy Reinhart, John Allred, Mark Nightingale, Harry Allen, Alan Barnes, Joe Temperley, Antti Sarpila, Dave Newton, Mark Shane, John Sheridan, Rossano Sportiello, James Chirillo, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Tate, Nicki Parrott, Len Skeat, Andy Cleyndert, Ed Metz Jnr, Bobby Worth, Allan Ganley, Peter Appleyard and Mike Piggott.

The weekend will start with a "Morton To Monk" piano concert on the Friday evening at 8.30pm, free for patrons who book for the full Party. There then follows a packed, three-day programme, with something for everyone interested in jazz, from the 1920s to the 60s.

The cost for the four days, music only, is £150 per person, or £1,680 for a table of 12. The cost for the Friday concert only will be £20 per person. Day tickets for Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be £55 per person per day.

Blackpool Hilton are again offering special rates for dinner, bed and breakfast, at £180 for the three-day weekend, plus £60 per person, per night, for any additional nights.

The hotel is also offering a package deal for three nights, which includes dinner, bed and breakfast, and music, for £356.25, plus £60 per person per night for extra nights. Call the hotel on 01253 623434.

For concert bookings and further details of the Swinging Jazz Party of 2008, call Tom and Chris Baron on 01253 764012 or Robin Duxbury 01254 665919 for what promises to be another memorable four days.

l Keith Smith, one of the most accomplished and successful jazz trumpeters Britain has ever produced, has died, aged 67. More famous for his achievements abroad than in the UK, Smith adopted the New Orleans style of innovators like Kid Howard, but was also an enthusiastic and influential contributor to mainstream jazz.

He spent long, successful spells in America, highly unusual for a British musician, and at one time led the Louis Armstrong All Stars, a tribute band which played the music of "Satchmo" and included five of the great man's musicians.