BRITAIN'S Best-known jazz cornet player Digby Fairweather has assembled a band of some of the nation's finest jazz musicians for a new show coming to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall.

As well as comprising Fairweather, who mixes both band leading with solo performances and presenting BBC Radio 2's Jazz Notes, the Great British Jazz Band features trumpet player Mike Cotton, who performed with The Kinks and led his own Jazzmen in the 60s.

The line-up also features Pete Strange on trombone, the band's musical director and writer of all the compositions and Dave Shepherd on clarinet who has toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, Billie Holiday and Gerry Mulligan.

John Barnes on reeds has played stints with Alex Welsh and Humphrey Lyttleton's bands, as has Roy Williams on trombone, the six times British Jazz Award winner.

Double bass player Len Skeat has performed with Stephane Grappelli, Ted Heath and Eddie Thompson's Trio and drummer Allan Ganley currently works with Cleo Lane and Johnny Dankworth.

Guitarist Jim Douglas has worked with Alex Welsh's Band and the Keith Smith Ensemble and pianist Brian Lemon is a favourite with touring American jazz artists such as Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache and Ruby Braff.

n The Great British Jazz Band is appearing at Huntingdon Hall on Saturday, May 10, at 8pm. Tickets are £12, concessions £11, from the box office on 01905 611427.