Jazz breaking news: Countdown To The Brecon Jazz Festival

30pm with music from their as yet unreleased album The Embrace, due next month.

Playing the Roland stage at Christ College in the Powys market town the concert marks the beginning of a busy series of concerts spread over three days. Across town on Friday evening – this time at Brecon Cathedral – Robert Hokum’s collaboration with Sam Kelly and Mehoob Nadeem plus Paul Clarvis dubbed Blues Sans Frontieres gets underway also at 6.30pm while other Friday acts include (in Christ College) The Outlaw Collective, a group founded at Berklee four years ago making its European debut, singer Clare Teal, Luxembourg vibes player Pascal Schumacher with his Quartet and headliner the Matthew Herbert Big Band (who play the Big Tent at Christ College) are also billed to appear. John Surman, the Stéphane Kerecki Trio, The Core, Alice Russell and Fringe Magnetic are also scheduled for the first day.

Saturday begins with a morning Rock Riff Guitar Workshop in the School Room of Christ College with Partikel later on the Christ College stage (midday). The trio – Duncan Eagles, Max Luthert and Eric Ford – are a relatively new band who debuted last year and honed their craft at the Monday night jam sessions in London’s Hideaway jazz club. Other Saturday highlights in a programme packed with big names include Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman at 2.30pm in the Big Tent of Christ College; Mick Jagger’s brother Chris Jagger and his Cajun/Zydeco Atcha band on the Pembertons stage of Christ College again in the afternoon; up and coming singer Sara Mitra on the Roland stage at 3.30pm; and the Kevin Brady Trio featuring cult US pianist Bill Carrothers on the Pembertons stage at 5.30pm. The early evening line-up sees the masterful sounds of the Monty Alexander Trio who take to the stage of the Market Hall at 6pm; while another piano trio, that of the acclaimed relative newcomer Elan Mehler, begin their set on the Christ College stage at the same time. ECM singer Norma Winstone appears with Klaus Gesing and Glauco Venier half an hour later in Brecon Cathedral and then at 8pm the great New Orleansian pianist and 'Southern Nights' songwriter Allen Toussaint appears in the Big Tent for a headline slot.

Phronesis, fresh from summer triumphs at the Montreal and Rochester jazz festivals appear on the Pembertons stage at 8.30pm for their special Pitch Black set to be performed in complete darkness. The band won Jazzwise album of the year in 2010 for Alive recorded at the Forge in London’s Camden Town. Other Saturday acts include the Yaron Herman Trio, Polar Bear with Jyager and Matthew Halsall Remixed in a double bill. Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble are at Brecon Cathedral at 10pm which should bring the day to a stimulating conclusion.

Sunday begins with singer Emily Wright on the Pembertons stage followed by a midday set on the Christ College stage courtesy of Dave Morecroft’s World Service Project. Hot newcomers Aquarium led by pianist Sam Leak are on the Roland stage at 12.30pm while later in the day the Sam Crowe Group, Keith Waithe’s Macusi Players and Anglo-Norwegian supergroup Meadow with John Taylor are on the programme.

Ben Lamdin’s retro funk-based band Nostalgia 77 featuring Jos Peit play the Roland stage at 4pm and then Led Bib who released Bring Your Own earlier this year and appeared on the cover of Jazzwise in February take to the Christ College stage. Jazz funk superstar Maceo Parker appears with the BBC Big Band in the Big Tent at 5pm followed an hour later by the Michael Janisch Quintet on the Pembertons stage. The band includes Steve Winwood sideman Paul Booth and ex-Empirical trumpeter Jay Phelps.

The Robert Glasper Experiment play the Market Hall at 6.30pm, a great piece of booking by the festival organisers, who bring one of the hottest and most credible names in both jazz and hip hop to Brecon. Stoneplace Stabbins also appear in the evening programme as well as the French singing star Mina Agossi and the trio. The Afrobeat of Femi Kuti and Positive Force bring the festival to a rousing finale in the Big Tent. – Stephen Graham

Jazzwise is a media sponsor of the Brecon Jazz Festival

For the complete line-up and ticket info go to www.hayfestival.com/breconjazz