"Jazz4Jed (November 8-11) is a first - the inaugural event to raise money for Welsh jazz talent in memory of a giant of the genre, Jed Williams - the man who created Brecon Jazz, set up Jazz UK magazine and was instrumental in furthering the jazz cause throughout the UK.

Jazz4Jed features an exciting programme of four days and nights of big name concerts and workshops in aid of the Jed Williams Memorial Fund, a charity set up to support young Welsh jazz musicians in their music careers, a cause close to Jed's heart.

Amongst the array of jazz talent on show will be US guitarist Wayne Krantz flying in for a special UK exclusive with fellow guitarist John Etheridge in a 'power quartet'; Britain's greatest saxophonist Peter King with his all-star band; the expressive and technically-gifted jazz singer Tina May; award-winning pianist Dave Stapleton whose release the 'The House Always Wins', was recently described by the Guardian as 'a real UK jazz revelation'; Wales' favourite jazz ravers and Brecon ever-presents, the numerically challenged Heavy Quartet, and many more.

The event is the brainchild of Jed's friends and collaborators, many of whom worked with him over the years at Brecon.

One of them, Geoff Amos said: "We're keeping Jed's memory alive in the way he would have liked - with great artists entertaining their fans and passing on their skills, and all to benefit the jazz talent of tomorrow. This is our first year and we are confident it will be a success and develop into an annual event that is a fitting way to celebrate the life of a jazz giant."

Rob Smith of the Heavy Quartet said: "We really owe our continuation to Jed Williams who spotted us busking and invited us to play Brecon and Cardiff jazz festivals in our first year and helped us get gigs. We were pretty rough and ready then but Jed encouraged us to keep going and to work on what we were doing."

For information on the full programme and advice on how to make a donation, please visit our website listed on the right of this page.

Article by Tim Powell