AS far as perfect surroundings to capture on canvas go, the picturesque Somerset landscapes must rate highly.

Acker Bilk speaks fondly of the weekly excursions he takes to paint barns, fields and the like in the area.

But the 77-year-old, who was born in Pensford, Somerset, and still lives there, is better known to most as one of jazz's greatest legends, his career spanning an impressive 50 years plus.

Before Acker - aka Bernard Stanley - became a musician he worked in the Bristol Wills Tobacco Factory and also spent his time boxing.

It wasn't until 1948 that he started playing clarinet, forming his first band in Bristol before he and his wife Jean moved to London.

His dislike of the capital meant his stay was short-lived and he returned to Bristol to form the Bristol Paramount Jazz Band. They got their first big break playing for six weeks in a bar in Dusseldorf and a number one in 1961 with Stranger on the Shore.

The musician, who plays in a distinctive New Orleans style, was honoured with an MBE for his services to the music industry four years ago.

To this day he still gets requests to guest with other bands but says his loyalties remain with the Paramount Jazz Band, with whom he is playing at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Friday, June 30. Despite impressing audiences for more than half a century though, Acker remains modest about his reputation.

He said: "I've just been playing and got a bit of luck I suppose. When I first came to London from Somerset people were saying `you'll be back, jazz is finished'.

"That was 50 years ago but it's still going - jazz is such great music it'll never die."

Tickets for Acker's Worcester concert are priced £15 (£14 concessions), from the box office on 01905 611427 or via www.huntingdonarts.com