ALEC Dankworth says he is delighted to be back in Dorset touring with his World Spirit band.

The son of singer Cleo Laine and jazz legend the late Johnny Dankworth is continuing the musical family’s tradition of performing together by taking to the stage with his daughter Emily as vocalist.

Along with Australian tenorist Brandon Allen and world percussionist Paul Clarvis, the Dankworths will explore melodies from Africa, South America and other continents from a jazz perspective from Thursday, beginning their tour in Melbury Osmond, calling in at Sturminster Newton, then Portesham and finally Studland on Sunday. The World Spirit tour comes to Dorset courtesy of Artsreach.

Alec has previously performed in rural Dorset venues with Artsreach, playing with the Christian Garrick quartet and with his Spanish Accents quintet.

Alec, who lives in Bucking-hamshire, said: “It never seems to be the same venue we go to, there is always a different village hall we’re performing in.”

When he tours in Dorset Alec stays with family friends who live close to Hardy’s Monument.

He said: “The surrounding countryside is beautiful and I love to experience it and go walking around there.”

In 2013 Alec formed World Spirit, based upon his love of music from the Iberian peninsula, to the Straits of Gibraltar into Africa and beyond.

He said: “It’s quite rare and it’s a privilege to perform with my daughter. Emily has been making music since the year dot. We’ve been encouraging her and her choice to sing and her granny and auntie were very involved in that as well.

“She’s been in an a capella group called Vive and has been doing gigs with my new band.”

Bass player Alec describes World Spirit’s sound as ‘world music with a jazz twist’ or ‘jazz music with a world music twist’.

He has travelled in many of the areas he has been musically influenced by. A lot of it comes from having played with musicians who have an interest in that music.

“I played quite a lot with the African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, one of the most famous musicians from South Africa.”

Alec has also performed with his sister Jacqui Dankworth, also a jazz musician.

He said: “A lot of people do ask about and do want to talk about my family. It was a very exciting household to grow up in, there was non-stop music going on.”

n Tickets are on sale for World Spirit’s tour of Dorset.

On Thursday, they will be performing at Melbury Osmond Village Hall, on Friday, they will be performing at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, on Saturday at Portesham Village Hall and on Sunday at Studland Village Hall. All performances start at 7.30pm.

See artsreach.co.uk for contact numbers.