STACEY Kent (above) returns to the Concorde Club by popular demand for two consecutive nights to satisfy the requests of the South's adoring jazz fans.

Stacey's passion and ability to interpret the songs she sings into romantic, moving, works of art has earned her the respect and adoration of singers and songwriters in the jazz arena.

Kent's return to the club follows a tour in the States during which she has made her debut appearance at Carnegie Hall, New York.

Her popularity has grown in the USA since CBS gave her national exposure in 2002/03 - a surge in demand for her albums placed her at the top of the charts with four titles.

Similarly, celebrity appearances on Michael Parkinson's show and Breakfast with Frost, here in the UK, raised Stacey's profile and her popularity has continued to grow.

As well as her ability to sell out concert halls around the world, she is also a presenter on BBC Radio 2's Big Band Special and Jazz Line Up on Radio 3.

New York-born and now London-based, Stacey's rise to international fame almost reads like a Hollywood script.

Although she enjoyed singing as a childhood pastime, it was a twist of fate that led her to the path she now follows.

A chance meeting in Oxford with saxophonist Jim Tomlinson saw the two of them embark on a year's study at the Guildhall School of Music before Stacey set about honing her skills on the London jazz scene - still in the company of Jim, who by this time was her husband. A far cry from the academic path she had planned.

Stacey's supporting musicians will be hubby Jim, who will play saxophone, Britain's top pianist Dave Newton, Dave Chamberlain on bass and Colin Oxley on guitar.

Tickets for performances tomorrow and Wednesday are available to members and non-members of the Concorde Club, Eastleigh.

Tickets for members are £13.50 and £15.50 for guests.

Bookings can be made by e-mail at info@theconcordeclub.com, calling 023 8061 3989, or by faxing 023 8061 1577.