THE FIRST ever Ilkley Jazz Festival is preparing to host some fantastic music over three days.

After the initial success last year of The Ilkley Summer Festival Jazz day, the decision was made to expand into the first year of a fledgling festival.

Ilkley Jazz Festival, from August 21-23, offers the chance to see one of the country's most renowned contemporary jazz singers, Jacqui Dankworth, as the festival's headliner. She will be appearing at The Kings Hall at 7.30pm on August 21.

A jazz singer and songwriter, Jacqui has become a highly regarded vocalist in the UK.

She is the daughter of the jazz musician, arranger and composer, Sir John Dankworth, and the singer Dame Cleo Laine.

It will be the turn of the Duncan Lamont Songbook on August 22 – a two-singer offering featuring the work of Duncan Lamont and the great man himself.

Duncan has worked with all the greats – Sinatra, Mancini, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine and even Fred Astaire – , often as a featured soloist. As a gifted composer, he has also written hundreds of songs that have been sung and recorded by the cream of singers – Blossom Dearie, Mark Murphy, Dame Cleo Laine, Norma Winstone, Tina May and Natalie Cole, to name but a few.

This performance presents some of the very best of Duncan’s Songbook, where he will be joined by two top jazz singers – popular London jazz singer Esther Bennett, northern star Beverley Beirne, London pianist John Crawford and northern musicians, Simon Read on double bass and Matt Parkinson on drums.

Duncan Lamont will also be holding a special one-off Song Writing Master Class in the Wildman Studio Ilkley Playhouse from 2pm to 4pm on the same day.

Festival organiser, Mark Beirne-Smith, said: "We’re small, but determined to grow.

"Ultimately, it’s all about presenting top quality jazz, and there are some amazing artists coming to perform for us."

Adrian Knowles and Ben Lowman will be back with their own jazz workshop – which was a huge success last year – in the Wildman Studio, Ilkley Playhouse from 4pm to 6pm on August 22.

A Late Night Jazz Jam will be held at The Grove Restaurant, from 10.30pm to 1am on August 22. This is your chance to play, with professional musicians in public, or just go along and enjoy the party atmosphere.

E-mail ilkleyjazz@gmail.com if you wish to play or sing.

There will be a Jazz Brunch on August 23 with Djangologie, who are the North East's premier gypsy jazz-style band, playing hard-hitting swing in the style of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. This is a free event in The Grove, Ilkley.

The main festival events support numerous additional events and artists in pubs, hostelries and wine bars across Ilkley and on Ilkley Moor during the festival weekend.

Tickets for events are available at Ilkley Visitor Information Centre on 01943 602319. E-mail ilkleyjazz@gmail.com for songwriting master classes, and visit ilkleyjazzfest.blogspot.co.uk for more details.