The Manchester Jazz Festival gets underway today with its biggest ever line-up to celebrate the event’s 15th anniversary, running through to Saturday 31 July with big names, international flavours and young talent drawing the crowds in, as well as a surprise appearance from latin soul revue Kid Creole and the Coconuts, who will play two successive nights – 27 and 28 July – at the famous Band on the Wall venue.

The first night will start with a bang, with the Jim Hart Trio joined by Ralph Alessi at the Festival Pavilion, while Sun Ra Arkestra reeds man Marshall Allen combines with avant-garde film maker James Harrar to go on the kind of spiritual journey once travelled by Sun Ra in the 1960s.

Liane Carroll headlines with her piano trio on the second day, playing and singing in her inimitable fashion with the backing of Roger Carey on bass and Mark Fletcher, drums, at the Festival Pavilion. The evening ends with Jon Thorne’s exciting Oedipus Mingus project at Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club.

Make sure not to miss the supergroup of pianist Gwilym Simcock, guitarist Mike Walker, electric bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Adam Nussbaum as they play at the RNCM on 27 July, as well as the high-octane sets of The Golden Age of Steam and trioVD at the Festival Pavilion on 30 July.

Manchester continues to be committed to giving fresh groups their chance thanks to the MJF Introduces scheme, with the likes of the Andrew Woodhead Quartet, the Sam Rapley/Adam Chatterton Quintet and the Orca Trio taking the stand.

Other highlights of the festival include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland (25 July) and the Asaf Sirkis Trio, with the Israeli drummer heading a double bill with the Arun Ghosh Quintet on 29 July.

– James Bourne

For the full line-up go to www.manchesterjazz.com