PEE Wee Ellis, tenor sax player and musical director of soul-legend James Brown, is to headline the 24th Stompin' on the Quomps the free alfresco smooth jazz festival.

Pee Wee also worked with Van Morrison for many years and in 2017, he featured in the BBC Jazz Proms performing Body and Soul in a tribute to jazz sax legend Coleman Hawkins.

Stompin’ on the Quomps founder and director, Adrian Dwyer said: “Thanks to our headline sponsor Cookes Furniture and funding from Arts Council England, we have been able to expand and extend the programme this year.

"This must be the best Stompin’ line up we have ever presented. We have the best in smooth jazz for all the family. The event is non-ticketed and we hope the public will give as generously as in past years and help us continue to bring the best music to Christchurch.”

The main stage programme also includes Latin-jazz style vocalist Emily Saunders and her band including trumpeter Byron Wallen, popular local Blues band Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, and will kick off with Sound of Blue Note.

The event ends, as ever, with the popular Taverners' Big Band performing music from the swing era with special guest trumpeter, Steve Waterman.

Stompin’ on the Quomps will once again run an Emerging Talent Stage alternating with the main stage and will feature new names, including Susie Kimber’s Hot Bean Trio, The Yellow Bear Quintet featuring Tobie Muir on sax and Jonathan Payne on trumpet, neo-soul jazz group Efiada and return visits from Ben Dwyer’s colourful Jazz Xperiment and The Daryl Ford Organ Trio.

New for this year, Stompin’ will also present British jazz singer Claire Martin OBE with guitarists Jim Mullen and Erik Soderlind at The Regent Centre, Christchurch on Wednesday, August 1.