WITH its unique blend of British stars, one-off collaborations and the freshest new sounds, Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which runs from April 28 to May 4, has become an unmissable date in the jazz calendar In the 2009 programme, up-and-coming young musicians sit alongside some of the jazz scene’s most influential and respected performers.

At the head of this year’s star-studded programme, world famous virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy will celebrate the bank holiday in a spell-binding festival finale. One of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced, Kennedy brings his Polish Jazz Quintet to Cheltenham to perform high-energy compositions from blues and bebop to ballads and bossa-nova, interspersed with a blast of metal.

Mica Paris is in the opening night concert with the Ruach Mass Choir. The 80-strong Ruach gospel choir will be performing with a host of very special guests such as Ian Shaw and Alex Wilson, with a little extra help from 100 local school children. With an amazing band and nearly 200 people on stage this will be uplifting enough to tear the roof off.

International star Madeleine Peyroux returns to Cheltenham following her sell-out performance in 2007.

South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela boasts an amazing career. His performance promises a gloriously uplifting combination of jazz and township jive to fabulous effect.

For details of the festival, visit cheltenhamfestivals. com/jazz. To book, call the box office on 0844 5767979.