Talent that's sassy, sharp and swinging

HEADING TO TOWN . . . vocalist Claire Martin OBE and legendary saxophonist and vocalist Ray Gelato.

TOWN-BASED jazz fanatics are in for a real treat this Friday as multi award-winning singer Claire Martin OBE and legendary saxophonist and vocalist Ray Gelato play at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre with A Swinging Affair.

Martin and Gelato are currently at the top of their game, thanks to a wealth of best-selling jazz albums and ongoing UK tours. These much-celebrated and respected musicians will share the stage with a world-class trio, led by renowned-pianist Dave Newton, and they will explore the Great American Songbook - including classics such as: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, They Can't Take That Away from Me, They all Laughed and Can't We Be Friends.

If you like your music sassy, sharp and swinging - this is the show for you.

Recording artist and BBC Radio presenter Martin has established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene, gaining many awards, including seven British Jazz Awards.

She is also a featured soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra. She has co-presented BBC Radio 3's flagship jazz programme, Jazz Line Up, since 2000.

Gelato is a multi-talented singer, saxman, songwriter and band leader who has been taking his special brand of swing, jazz and R&B music all over the world since 1988, including a long-established residency at Soho's world famous Ronnie Scott's.

He has also performed for HM The Queen, opened for Robbie Williams at the Royal Albert Hall, and was chosen to play at Sir Paul McCartney's wedding.

Tickets from the Coliseum, by phone on 0161 624 2829, or coliseum.org.uk.