Stars of the UK and international jazz scene will share the programme at this year’s Aberdeen Jazz Festival (Wednesday 8-Sunday 12 March) with the next generation of talented musicians.

School pupils from the North-east will feature in free lunchtime (12.30pm) Young Musician Showcases in the Lemon Tree Café, with the South Aberdeenshire Big Band and Harlaw Academy appearing on Thursday 9 March, and Aberdeen Youth Big Band and Kemnay Academy the following day.

The line-up on Sunday 12 March includes The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra, with 21 young musicians under the direction of Scotland’s most distinguished jazz musician at the Blue Lamp (2.30pm. Tickets - £5.00 & £4.00 concession).

With a repertoire ranging from Ellington, Basie, Mingus and Gillespie classics to present day big band sounds by Maria Schneider and Joe Zawinul, a number of these musicians have already played with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

There will be a Sunday evening appearance by the Strathclyde University Big Band at the Lemon Tree (7.30pm. Tickets - £8.00 (£6.00 concession). One of Britain’s few long-established university-based jazz orchestras, it has a deserved reputation for developing young talent and playing varied, adventurous music. The current line-up, conducted by founder John Davies, has won enthusiastic approval from festival and concert audiences.

The Festival again includes an instrument workshop by eminent musician and educationalist, Stonehaven-born, Richard Michael, for up to 100 youngsters, and an Advanced Jazz Workshop, with the Alan Skidmore Quartet, on Friday 3 March at the Summerhill Education Centre. Top American pianist, Mulgrew Miller, will also be presenting a jazz masterclass for young jazz musicians at HM Theatre on Saturday, 11 March.

Neil Gibbons, of Festival organisers, Jazz Aberdeen, said: “Encouraging young talent is one of the key objectives of the Festival, and it’s great to see the high level of their involvement again. “They’ll find plenty of examples at the Festival of what local musicians can achieve – from recognised stars, such as Graeme Stephen, Marisha Addison and Sebastian Rochford, all born in Aberdeen, to the Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra and the range of styles appearing in the very first Aberdeen Jazz Review.”

There will be 32 performances at this year’s expanded Festival at five venues - the Music Hall, Blue Lamp, Rusty Nail, The Tunnels and Lemon Tree. Aberdeen City Council is the main sponsor for the Festival which is also supported by the Scottish Arts Council.

For tickets and further information on the Festival, please visit the Jazz Aberdeen website at www.jazzaberdeen.com or call 01224 619769.