The Ronnie Scott’s Brit Jazz Fest, supported by Jazzwise, gets underway tomorrow and runs until 14 August, celebrating many of the very best sounds coming out of the British jazz scene at the moment.

A special Brit Jazz Radio FM station will also air during the festival on 96.3 FM for central London and on www.ronniescotts.co.uk for the rest of the world, broadcasting 24 hours a day with special guest presenters to include Georgie Fame and Ian Shaw, Ronnie Scott’s managing director Simon Cooke announced at the radio launch last night in Ronnie’s Bar. Mr Cooke began by saying that the club was still mourning the death this week of popular club drummer Chris Dagley and in respect all those gathered at the event broke into sustained applause.

The Brit Jazz festival will cram more than 150 performing musicians into the club over the 15 nights, with keenly priced double bills between Monday and Thursday each week during the festival followed by the Late Late Show featuring still more top bands. The LLS is priced at £10 on the door, or free for musicians and customers with tickets for the main show.

The opening few nights have plenty in store for the jazz lover, with Hammond B3 organ legend Brian Auger kicking things off tomorrow with his Oblivion Express, with support from the Yazz Ahmed Quintet. Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra take their big band style to the stage on Sunday, featuring the work of the very best British jazz composers including songs associated with the great man himself.

The first week continues with hit after hit. Pianist John Taylor and saxophonist Julian Argüelles play for the first time as a duo on Monday 2 August, ably supported by the Neon Quartet featuring Mercury nominee Kit Downes alongside Stan Sulzmann. If that weren’t enough, Tuesday 3 August has the Jasper Høiby-led Phronesis – hot on the tails of their recently released album Alive – in a double bill with the superb Led Bib. The other major highlights of the opening week are Empirical with their Cannonball Adderley tribute show Walk Tall on 4 August, and the Django Bates Trio’s take on Charlie Parker with Beloved Bird – supporting the album of the same name – on Thursday 5 August. And on Friday 6 August the 17-piece Laurence Cottle Big Band with special guest vocalist round off the first week with support from the Jessica Lauren Four.

Check the Brit-jazz blog on www.jazzwisemagazine.com during the festival for all the latest.

For the complete line-up and ticket details go to www.ronniescotts.co.uk