Jazz breaking news: BBC Unveils Bands For Cheltenham Showcase

And with the new tented arena, extensive fringe and a whirl of activity elsewhere the festival this year also debuts, courtesy of the BBC, a special BBC Introducing stage highlighting the work of four specially selected bands.

Chosen by Gilles Peterson, Jez Nelson and festival guest director Jamie Cullum, the inaugural bands are Rachael Musson’s Skein, Saltwater Samurai, The Discordian Trio and Trish Clowes. Musson is a saxophonist now based in London who studied at the Guildhall and Trinity and performs with Skein who feature Alcyona Mick, Will Collier, Javier Carmona and Josh Morrison. Saltwater Samurai are a five piece from New Cross who blend house beats, dub and jazz and comprise altoist Luke Georgiou, keyboards player Alex Horky, bassist Huw Bennett, Hugh Jones on electronics, and drummer George Bird. The Discordian Trio meanwhile take their cue from the Mahavishnu Orchestra while saxophonist Trish Clowes debuted this year with the widely praised album Tangent and in 2008 she won a Musicians Benevolent Fund Development Award, resulting in the formation of her group which features Clowes with guitarist Alex Munk, bassist Calum Gourlay, drummer James Maddren and cellist Heidi Parsons.

The BBC Introducing stage gets underway at 5.30pm on 1 May at Jazz in the Square at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and BBC Radio 3’s Jazz on 3 broadcast a highlights programme on Monday May 16th after which the music will air on Jamie Cullum (Radio 2), Gilles Peterson (Radio 1) and Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone (6music)

– Stephen Graham