Mathieson jazz concert

Mathieson jazz concert

Ken Mathieson's Classic Jazz Orchestra heads towards its 10th anniversary this summer with a concert for Linlithgow Jazz Club at the historic town's Queen Margaret Hall on Saturday May 3.

The orchestra, which has earned an international reputation through its recordings, concerts and jazz festival appearances, will celebrate 10 years of championing jazz from Jelly Roll Morton to Charles Mingus with gigs at both Glasgow and Edinburgh jazz festivals this year and a new album with special guest, California-born, New Orleans-styled clarinettist Evan Christopher to be released in June.

l classicjazzorchestra.org.uk

Festival aims to hit right note

Darvel Music Festival opens in the Ayrshire town on Saturday when blues singer-guitarist Eric Bibb follows an illustrious line of performers who have graced the Town Hall stage since the festival began in 2001.

Crusaders and Steely Dan guitarist Larry Carlton, Average White Band singer Hamish Stuart, blues singers Mud Morganfield and Maggie Bell, and jazz guitarist Martin Taylor have all featured in the festival and as well as Bibb, this year the festival welcomes Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire and JJ Gilmour & Phil Kane.

The organisers also plan to stage regular concerts throughout the year, having recently secured a £10,000 grant from the Lottery fund.

l darvelmusicfestival.org