The London Jazz Festival has announced special concerts with both Gilberto Gil and Cleo Laine as part of the EFG International Excellence Series.

The festival, which is held in association with BBC Radio 3 and sponsored by Jazzwise, runs from 13-22 November at the capital’s main concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, the Barbican and Kings Place as well as the main London jazz clubs. Gilberto Gil will première a new strings project with cellist Jaques Morelenbaum and guitarist/percussionist Bern Gil at the RFH on 19 November while the Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth night, Accentuating The Positive, will take place at the RFH on 21 November and will celebrate and reflect on her career with quartet, quintet and duo settings featuring special guests.

Other major names so far booked include John Scofield and the Piety Street band, Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet, the Tord Gustavsen Trio, John Surman 65th Birthday Celebration and Carla Bley at the Southbank Centre, Bill Frisell and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican and Stefano Bollani curating a residency at Kings Place.

For tickets and more go to www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk