FLICKY HARRISON previews concert with jazz maestro

Swindon trombone supremo Ian Bateman notches up 40 years in the jazz world this year, and is special guest at the Kentwood Christmas Cracker.

Ian is best known for his work with Acker Bilk and the Paramount Jazz Band and he is the featured jazz soloist in the Back to Basie Orchestra. In the last four decades he has performed on the Royal Command Performance before the Queen Mother and shared the stage with Frankie Vaughan, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie.

More recently he has created his own line-ups with The Bone Supremacy, Frank and JJ Tribute, Bateman Brothers with his brother Alan, and Kick Ass Brass.

He is also a wizard website ace, creating sites for many of the top UK jazz musicians.

Always in demand, Ian was asked to play with Pete Allen's band and Terry Lightfoot Jazz Band and he has graced the same stage as Wiltshire's own Jamie Cullum, Bob Monkhouse, Jackie Dankworth, Victoria Wood, Jimmy Tarbuck and Bernie Clifton.

In the Kentwood Show Choir's Christmas production on Sunday, November 27, he will be performing The Acrobat alongside the choir's little big band led by Paul Maguire, musical director from the West End. Paul's musicians are Sheila Harrod, founder and musical director of Kentwood on piano, Gary Bamford on keyboards, Tracey Absalom on bass guitar and Andy Griffiths on percussion. Ian will also play his version of the ever popular Georgia.

The Cracker is the start of the Christmas celebrations in Swindon's Wyvern Theatre and has a stocking stuffed full of musical treats including Carols, Christmas songs such as Sleigh Ride and Christmas Everyday, Poem by Sue Hatchard, a special rendition of By Thee With Bliss by brother and sister Catherine and Will Forty, and festive feasts such as Elf Song by Kathy Dobson and Rudolph by the full choir.

The other special Kentwood guest is young pianist Kimberley Mok,13, who was chosen to perform in the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank with the 100 pianists project. She has scooped numerous trophies in the Swindon Music Festival and her favourite pieces are classical compositions from Mozart and Mendelsohn. She was spotted by Sheila and invited to perform at the festive concert.

The Kentwood Cracker starts at 6.30pm and tickets are £14.50 plus booking fee from 01793 524481. - Flicky Harrison