ON Saturday, November 22, Saundersfoot will host a visit by one of Britain's leading jazz attractions, providing a very special evening of jazz in its original styles and concept, that of New Orleans, 'The City Where all the Music Came From'.

Jazz began in New Orleans, about 100 years ago, a new way of making music that has resounded throughout the world. Just about all of the astonishing developments in 20th century popular music can be traced back to the innovations of early jazz.

The late great Ken Colyer is renowned and revered as Britain's great jazz pioneer, the first European musician to visit the city as a 'student' to learn form the great original musicians still playing there. On his return he quickly established 'New Orleans style Jazz' as a vital force in British music, through leading his 'Jazzmen' with his distinctive and superb trumpet playing.

Sadly, Ken died in 1988, but his many supporters came together to form the Ken Colyer Trust, with the aims of both commemorating his achievements, and to campaign for 'The Music', the music of New Orleans, and especially the ongoing work of British New Orleans style musicians.

Today's Ken Colyer Trust New Orleans Jazz Band is comprised of some of the finest professional jazz musicians playing in the original jazz styles in Britain today. They will be making a very rare visit to Saundersfoot to present a concert of jazz in its original style, Blues, Rags, Stomps, great evergreen popular songs, Marches and even a few funeral hymns.

Now well established as a leading jazz attraction, with regular concert appearances at prestigious venues, such as London's Purcell Room, they have a full programme of overseas tours, with a visit to Hamburg and Berlin scheduled for this autumn, and a near full diary for 2004 already!

But, this is a continually evolving music, and something of the flavour of present day New Orleans will be heard too. Drummer Emile Martyn is a frequent visitor to New Orleans and there will be some of the contemporary 'street beat' rhythms of today's scene.

There will also be a skiffle session, led by Mac Robinson, local jazz expert and dedicated Colyer adherent. Skiffle was introduced by Ken Colyer in the early 1950s, American Blues and folk and gospel songs accompanied by guitars (and a variety of other instruments). It was skiffle that inspired British first generation Rock musicians (The Beatles started out as a skiffle group). In fact, Ken Colyer has been described as 'The Great Grandfather of British Rock Music!'

The concert is in support of an educational workshop at Saundersfoot for school students, to introduce them to this wonderful way of making music. The Ken Colyer Trust presents many such workshops all over the UK, and a whole 'new wave' of young jazz musicians can be seen emerging from these efforts. Some have already performed a festivals and concerts.

Above all, this will be an evening of real music, played by real musicians on real instruments (not dependent on electronics). The original jazz is music for everyone! Entertaining, exciting, melodic and accessible. In fact, music that's played the way life is lived - 'You have to improvise' and in the end 'it's all down to you'.

It was Britain that really introduced the wider world to this music, largely through the efforts of Ken Colyer. Come and enjoy an evening of music from New Orleans, but also an enduring Great British success story!

The jazz evening takes place at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £8 and £3 for students and accompanied children.

For tickets and further information contact Brian Lang on 812810.