A BROMSGROVE bass-player is hoping to bag some jazzed-up transport to take his band to an international music festival next year.

Roger Heath, from Willow Close, is one-fifth of The Heart of England Jazz Band who have been invited to perform at Germany's Jazz Fest 2002.

Musicians from across the globe will appear at the gala event, taking place next April in Bromsgrove's twin town, Gronau.

Links were established when the Bromsgrove Twinning Association asked the band to join them on an exchange, to include attending the festival.

However, when Roger Heath submitted a swinging CD of the band's musical talents, event organisers liked it so much they were immediately recruited to perform. Now Roger will be sending letters out to local companies appealing for help in transporting the band and their instruments to next year's festival.

Rednal-born Roger was a founder member of the group, formerly known as the Arthur Brown Jazz Band, which formed in the early 80s.

In 1997 the band renamed themselves when trumpeter Arthur Brown left the band to join another group, to be replaced by Pete Ainge.

Aptly named

The Heart of England Jazz Band is aptly named since all five members are from the Midlands, including drummer Clive Milward from Rubery.

The band have already enjoyed many trips to foreign shores including annual gigs in Guernsey, several tours of Germany, Holland and Belgium and trips to Jazz's hometown --- New Orleans in the US.

Now retired, Roger has more time to pursue his musical enthusiasms and works as a volunteer for the Primrose Hospice.