FIRST news from October’s Marsden Jazz Festival ... and it’s looking good.

Trad fans will be delighted to know that this year’s event will be launched with impeccable style by a welcome return of the legendary Temperance Seven.

They topped the charts in 1961 with You’re Driving Me Crazy and followed it up in the same year with their No 4 hit Pasadena.

One of the great names in British jazz for more than 40 years, the band is set to get feet tapping when they appear on Friday, October 10.

It’s the 17th annual jazz festival to be held in Marsden and is run by a small but dedicated group of volunteers.

Thousands are expected to flock to venues throughout the district to see all styles of jazz over the weekend.

Organisers have lined up singer Claire Martin to bring the music which won her the British Jazz Awards’ Best Vocalist gong on four occasions.

She’s praised for the warmth and subtlety of her voice, for her intelligent phrasing and for her sheer class and is also known as the voice of BBC Radio Three’s Jazz Line Up.

Young group Empirical, described as one of the hottest properties in British jazz today, will also be there.

The five members were winners of the winners of the inaugural EBU/European Jazz Competition and are firmly tipped to be heading for the top.

Those who’ve heard them say you should think of a cross between Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane.

Saxophonist Snake Davis is also among the headliners, playing his gig on the Sunday afternoon at Marsden Mechanics’.

As well as being resident saxophonist on Tonight With Jonathon Ross, he has played with the likes of James Brown, Smokey Robinson and Chaka Khan.

The traditional street parade starts at noon on the Saturday from Peel Street.

In all, there are 60 performances in all over the weekend, with 50 of them being free.

Venues range from Marsden Mechanics’ hall to pubs, a church and Puleside Working Men’s Club.

There’s even a jazz train with entertainment on board a normal Northern Rail service from Huddersfield to Marsden and Stalybridge and back.