A REPERTOIRE of somewhat risqué old blues songs can be heard at the Bridport Arts Centre Jazz Café on Friday, January 18.

Multi-sax player and vocalist Andy Williamson will appear at the café.

Andy is known for blowing exceptionally good tunes on the sax.

He has played with his own bands the Honkin’ Hep Cats and Big Buzzard Boogie Band on BBC Radios 2, 3 and 4 and at Buckingham Palace; as a sideman with Tom Robinson and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas; and sung duets with Suggs from Madness (taking the place of the then recently departed Ian Dury).

Andy has played in the Denbone Walkers with guitarist Denny Ilett, celebrating the centenary of T-Bone Walker. He also co-founded The Organ Grinders with keyboard player Maff Potts (after Maff donated one of his kidneys to Andy in 2007), with the aim of encouraging more people to join the UK Organ Donor Register.

He also performs regularly with poet Matt Harvey, recently taking the Bridport Literary Festival by storm.

Andy has performed ambitious works with large ensembles at the Bristol Jazz festival; a while ago it was Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, and last year the Gershwin Spectacular, a jazz oratorio featuring vocalist Jacqui Dankworth.

His versatile style on saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone) and voice creates an interesting, eclectic and highly enjoyable performance, which will be complemented by Philip Clouts at the piano.

*Andy Williamson, Bridport Arts Centre, Friday, January 18, 8pm. Call the box office for tickets.