Festival in fourth year

The festival, to be held in Pontypool Park from Friday to Sunday, is in its fourth year and last year was visited by more than 12,000 people. More than 50 acts will play six different venues ranging from a specially-erected marquee in the park to the courtyard of Pontypool Museum.

Musical director and festival organiser Tom Will-iams said: "There are almost 60 concerts during the weekend and I've atte-mpted to produce a programme that again reflects the high level of performance of musicians in the country.

"We're very happy to have Damon Brown, who's now living in Paris and has come over especially to play at Jazz in the Park, which is why he's playing on Saturday and Sunday.

"There's Andy Hamilton, who was discovered at about the age of 80 and used to play on Errol Flynn's yacht in his younger days, and we're very pleased that there are so many big bands, including the local Newport band.

"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 New-port, Torfaen and Aber-gavenny.

"An event of this quality obviously costs a lot of money. It can be difficult at times but we've never wanted to change our free entry policy which makes it so popular.

"The musicians have yet again responded magnificently and all of them, including the big names, have lowered their usual fees because they love the music and unique atmosphere created by Jazz in the Park."

Councillor Lewis Jones, executive member for leisure, youth, and culture, said: "It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned jazz fan or this is your first time we've managed to make sure the range of music and singing covers it all."

Official programmes are priced at £2 and are available from Torfaen council.

The festival opens at 7pm on Friday.