A MAGNIFICENT line-up of live music awaits visitors to the Ribble Valley's 7th Jazz Festival, with over 40 bands and 350 musicians heading to the area over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend

The festival gets underway with one of the brightest UK stars of contemporary jazz, pianist Bill Laurance, bringing his group of musicians to The Grand for a special presentation of his forthcoming third album, 'Aftersun.'

Bill is one of the core members of international jazz-funk super-group Snarky Puppy.

The following day, bassist Ben Crossland and an all-star quintet that also includes ex-Soft Machine guitarist John Etheridge and saxophonist Dave O'Higgins will be paying tribute to songwriter Ray Davies of the Kinks.

For International Jazz Day on Saturday, April 30, Claire Martin OBE will be making her first headline appearance at the festival, following in the footsteps of Stacey Kent, Clare Teal and Jacqui Dankworth. She will be performing a much loved repertoire of jazz classics when she joins up with long-time playing partner, saxophonist Ray Gelato. She will also be presenting a 'jazz singing masterclass' the following morning at The Grand.

Also on the Saturday, renowned guitarist, Martin Taylor, will be performing an afternoon concert with support from Remi Harris.

Courtney Pine, a giant of the UK jazz scene, will make his debut appearance in Clitheroe with a special, intimate concert at The Grand, in duo with award-winning pianist Zoe Rahman on Sunday, May 1. The pair will promote their new album: 'Song, The Ballad Book' which will see them perform mellow, stripped back arrangements of timeless jazz classics.

A new development for 2016 is the appointment of an Artist-in-residence at the festival.

Clarinetist and composer Arun Ghosh will be commissioned to work with and write new music for the 20 young musicians of Blackburn with Darwen Big Band. He will also be performing with them during the weekend (on the Sunday, May 1, along as with his own six-piece group. A festival innovation is the introduction of a "Conversation with" Arun Ghosh when, in the lead up to his concert, jazz entrepreneur Jeremy Davies of Root Music, will tease out the cultural influences Arun has brought to jazz.

The programme also includes a dance-friendly night of jazz/funk at the St Michael and St John's Parish Centre, Clitheroe, on Saturday, April 30, when the highly regarded Hackney Colliery Band take on the Ribble Valley's own Blu Funk Syndicate. This gig is followed by an improvised late night jazz jam – featuring many of the star musicians from across the weekend.

For those who like a more traditional take on jazz, The Grand's Lunchtime Live' concert on Friday, April 29 features the Eric Ainsworth Trio and X Factor star Ella Shaw, and a Tribute to Glenn Miller on Monday, May 2, from Paul Rigby's Northern Jazz Orchestra and the fabulous Sparkle Sisters.

The Festival is now one of the Lancashire's best-established music events and features opportunities for people to engage throughout the weekend in a variety of ways.

The Saturday of the festival will see a Street Jazz Festival in Clitheroe and live music sessions on Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday at the Bandstand in Clitheroe Castle grounds.

A number of smaller venues in the town will be alive with music, with the Rose and Crown hosting the principle Blues stage and The Atrium at The Castle, presenting a number of high quality shows for a more intimate audience.

Ribble Valley Jazz Festival, Thursday, April 2 to Monday, May 2. Details from the Grand box office on 01200 421599 or www.rvjazzandblues.co.uk.