Arun Ghosh, Abram Wilson and Asaf Sirkis For Croydon Jazz and Blues Festival

Arun Ghosh, whose album Northern Namaste made a big impact last year and who recently excelled at the Britjazz showcase held at Jazzahead in Bremen, performs at the Croydon Clocktower on the opening night. Then, at the Ashcroft Theatre the next day, Saturday 13 June, Abram Wilson and the Delta Blues Trio – bassist Gary Crosby, guitarist Giorgio Serci and harmonica player Duke Baysee – perform a special blues set in an evening of jazz, blues and gospel, the main event of the festival this year. Abram, from New Orleans, has made a big contribution to the UK jazz scene in recent years, working with Jazz Jamaica and Tomorrow’s Warriors and on his own projects, with his latest album due this autumn.

Croydon also welcomes drummer Asaf Sirkis on 17 June. Best known for his work with the Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble, and with Tim Garland and Gwilym Simcock in the Lighthouse Trio, Asaf conducts a workshop and performs at the Brief venue on George Street. With a host of free entry events at the North End stage and other venues go to www.croydonjazzfestival.com for more.