Brecon jazz: Festival set for first webcast gig

Huw Warren's concert will be streamed live on the web at 19:30 BST

A Brecon Jazz Festival concert will be streamed live on the internet for the first time to help boost the event's global appeal.

The gig will feature pianist Huw Warren and Italian singer Maria Pia de Vito on the Chapter stage at Brecon Cathedral.

Meanwhile, photographs of some of the famous names who have appeared at the festival down the years have been published in a new book.

The annual festival started on Friday and runs until Sunday.

Organisers said they had chosen to stream Warren's concert because he was the festival's artist in residence.

Jools Holland and Acker Bilk are among the headliners at this year's event as the organisers expand the number of concerts on offer.

The number of shows has increased by a third to 43, while the town's Castle Hotel is added to the list of venues.

"We're streaming only one performance and that's Huw Warren," said a festival spokesman.

"We felt it was appropriate on the basis of him being the artist in residence for Brecon jazz. He's doing a duet with a woman called Maria Pia de Vito.

"Hopefully streaming a Welsh artist alongside a European artist will encourage overseas fans to get more involved in Brecon jazz.

'Unique'

"Not only does it allow the complete jazz community to get a taste of Brecon jazz, but it's also one of Wales' most traditional and unique festivals.

"Coverage for something like this will hopefully increase our position in European jazz communities and across the globe as a better tourist attraction."

Brecon Jazz Story in Photographs includes a photo of Stephane Grappelli

Among the other acts on the festival's bill will be Courtney Pine and Django Bates.

The event will also feature Welsh jazz talent and street entertainment.

Meanwhile, a book entitled The Brecon Jazz Story in Photographs was published to coincide with the start of the festival.

It reveals, through the eyes of local photographer Gena Davies, its changing character since its beginnings in 1984.

Some of the most famous names in jazz - Lionel Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, Stephane Grappelli and George Shearing - are pictured in the book.

The Cardiff-based Orchard media group is running the festival for a second year.

The concerts attracted 8,000 visitors last year and many more visited the town to listen to the street entertainers.

The event also has a thriving Brecon Fringe festival which offers a complementary programme of music in bars and smaller venues across the town.