THE best young jazz musicians in the Southampton area will be joining forces with one of the UK’s top jazz singers and piano players.

The Southampton Jazz Orchestra (SJO) will be latest headliners at the Southampton Jazz Club tonight at The Talking Heads.

SJ0 is recognised as one of the most successful and creative organisations of its type in the country.

The band has won national awards, played at many major venues and jazz festivals as well as touring abroad to places such as New York, Boston, Havana and the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Sharing stage with the SJO will be special guest and award winning singer/pianist Liane Carroll who has been described as one of the UK’s greatest musical treasures.

A classically trained pianist, she is a soulful, emotive singer.

Growing up in a musical household in Hastings, Liane’s powerful soul inflected tones have been likened to Ella Fitzgerald.

Liane has worked with many A list artistes ranging from Sir Paul McCartney to Gerry Rafferty and is a regular headliners at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

She recorded a charity single for Brazilian street children on which her backing singer was the former Beatle.

And the jazz star will relish appearing with the Southampton Jazz Orchestra as she is a passionate educator.

She teaches at jazz summer schools in the UK and Europe and also works with young ensembles and choirs.