PONTYPOOL'S fourth annual jazz festival got into the swing last night - and organisers hope this year's musical extravaganza will attract record crowds.
Jazz in the Park 2003, was officially opened by Mayor of Torfaen councillor Doug Davies, and features almost 60 acts playing in six different venues ranging from a specially-erected marquee in Pontypool Park to the courtyard of Pontypool Museum.
In total there will be 64 live performances before the festival ends this evening.
Last year the free event was visited by more than 12,000 people and hopes are high that this year the total will be even higher.
It all kicked off at 7.30pm yesterday in the Jazz Marquee with a performance by Jeff Hooper, resident singer with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and a regular with the BBC Big Band.
Musical director and festival organiser Tom Williams said: "I've attempted to produce a programme that again reflects the high level of performance of musicians in the country.
"As a result of the success of the festival over the previous three years we're becoming known worldwide and we're becoming more international - we're spreading our wings, as it were.
"But we've also kept a Welsh flavour to the festival with acts from Newport, Torfaen, and Abergavenny."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article