Jazz festival line-up announced

The jazz festival is looking to encourage younger players

The line up for the Isle of Man Jazz Festival has been announced, with big names set to appear in the three-day event.

The September festival will feature players of traditional and modern jazz styles at a venue in Douglas.

The Manx Jazz Club, which is organising the event, said there will be a Jazz Church Service in St George's to replace the usual church organ one.

A New Orleans style street parade will take place during the music weekend.

Forty professional musicians from the UK are booked to appear at the festival which starts on 21 September at the Hilton Hotel in Douglas.

Friendly festival

Alan Grubb, Chairman of the Manx Jazz Club, said: "In recent years we have tried to bring in many of the younger performers and this has been a great success."

Julian Marc Strangle, voted best clarinettist in the British Jazz Awards in 2005, returns to the festival after being one of the major hits of last year.

Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw said: "The festival has gained a reputation over the years as one of the friendliest around, where musicians and audience mix freely, I am sure this is one of the reasons for its success."