JAZZMEN from the Greater Manchester area will gather at the British Aerospace Sports and Social Club, Lostock, on Friday, April 17, to honour their local mentor, Bert Knowles.

Septuagenarian Bert, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, the subject of a recent BEN feature, is a self-confessed jazz nut and his huge collection of albums, tapes and CDs could keep a radio station running for ages - without repeats!

His enthusiasm for the music he loves led him to coax the members of popular Bolton-based group Jeriatric Jazz (Shawcross, Ashby and Worth) out of retirement and he has displayed similar support for other local musicians and bands.

Colin Worth, vocalist with Jeriatric Jazz, said: "Bert has done a lot for jazz and jazz musicians so we thought it only right that we should stage a concert in his honour.

"British Aerospace sports and social club is a brilliant venue and it's such a pity that the decision to close it has been taken.

"Bert used to be concert secretary at the club in its heyday so it will be a particularly poignant occasion for him.

"A number of 'faces' from the Manchester jazz scene have promised to appear alongside Jeriatric Jazz. Alto saxophonist Brian Crowther and flugelhorn player Chris Carty will be there and Vinnie Parker (keyboards), Steve Berry (bass) and Munch Manship (tenor and flute) are some of the other names approached.

"There will be at least two bands. Final details are yet to be ironed out but it will be a knock-out night."

Tickets, priced £3, are now on sale. The event starts at 8.30pm and finishes at 12.30 am, the time the bar closes.

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