GREAT news for jazz fans in the North West comes with the confirmation that Wigan International Jazz Festival will again be held this July.

It will be the 21st time that Ian Darrington and the Wigan IJF Steering Group have put together an event which stands comparison with any in the world for quality of musicians and singers and its support programme, which includes workshops, lectures and fringe concerts.

Writing in the Spring edition of the Jazz Club's newsletter, Mr Darrington refers to the closure of The Mill At The Pier, for many years home of the organsisation and its main concert venue. He describes it as a serious blow.

This gave the organisers an additional burden, as besides booking the headline musicians and singers expected by Festival regulars, they needed to find suitable venues.

Mr Darrington believes that this has been achieved with the booking of the JJB Stadium's Tetley Suite and Lowton Civic Hall, both 400 seaters.

The artists so far booked for this year's Jazzfest include Ben Riley's "Monk Legacy"; "We Remember Clifford", featuring Benny Golson and Randy Becker; Roy Hargrove Quintet; Janne Errson Big Band from Sweden with a tribute to Buddy Rich; Lynne Arriale Trio and Wigan Jazz Club Big Band with a special guest, who has yet to be confirmed.

I will bring you further information when it is released but, in the meantime, here is advanced notification of pre-Festival events which will provide splendid "tasters" for the delights to come.

On Sunday, April 30, at 12.30pm, The New Jazz Couriers Martin Drew (drums), Mornington Lockett (tenor), Jim Hart (vibes), Paul Morgan (bass) and Steve Melling (piano) will appear at The Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan. Then on Wednesday, May 10, at 8.00pm, the European Youth Jazz Orchestra is in concert in the Tetley Suite, JJB Stadium. The Ladies of Swing Barbara Jay, Tina May and Joan Viskant with the Tommy Whittle Quintet will play Lowton Civic Hall on Sunday, May 28, and at The Investment Centre on Sunday, June 26, East Midlands Jazz Orchestra will have Alan Barnes as its featured guest soloist.

For information about any of these gigs, or Wigan Jazz Festival, call 01925 727408, or 01942 243974.