THE Swedish Jazz Kings, coming to Hanley Castle next week, have been described in the international jazz press as one of the best classical jazz bands on the scene.

They were formed in 1985 by a group of first-class professional jazz musicians as a studio band to record Clarence Williams' compositions.

Since then, the band has stayed together and developed a world-wide reputation playing Chicago-New Orleans style jazz of the 1920s and early 1930s.

For the concert at Hanley Castle High School on Friday, November 17, they will be joined by two well-known British musicians - trombonist Roy Williams and pianist Martin Litton. Williams has played with the band many times at festivals in Europe, while Litton is a regular member of the band on its European tours.

The line-up is led by arranger and trumpet/cornet player Bent Persson, who is internationally renowned for his recreation of the 50 hot choruses of Louis Armstrong. He also plays in Big Band, Kusbandet. Clarinettist and soprano saxophone player Tomas Ornberg is an emotional and inventive reed player and the solid rock in the drummerless rhythm section of the band is banjo and guitar player Olle Nyman. Bass saxophone player is Frans Sjostrom, also an excellent banjo player, arranger and composer, who works as a music producer for Swedish Radio.

The band is coming to Hanley Castle courtesy of the Friends of Upton Jazz Festival. The concert is at 8pm and tickets are £8 to members and £10 to non-members, from 01684 593794 or Pepperpot Print, Upton.