The Festival is flying in from America gospel jazz singer, Shirley Alexander, to join up again with Brian Carrick and Andrew Hall to perform a collection of songs including ‘Fly Away’ and ‘Darktown Strutters Ball’ in the New Orleans style.

The venue used for the 2004 year recording was the historic Old Fireman’s Hall in Algiers, New Orleans which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Andrew said: “From 1918, the Old Fireman’s Hall was a neighbourhood dance hall where people who worked on shipyards would let their hair down on Friday and Saturday. It oozed atmosphere.”

In 2004 Andrew, who returned to Newark but had lived in New Orleans for 35 years, and British clarinettist, Brian Carrick decided it was the perfect venue to record a CD of gospel and dance tunes. The location was the inspiration Brian Carrick’s iconic Algier’s Stompers Band.

Now, with the original venue destroyed, the musicians are reunited to perform again in Newark Parish Church on May 16th to launch Newark Jazz Festival 2008.

Andrew Hall said: “Shirley Alexander has an amazingly powerful voice. She began singing at 10yrs of age in Baptist church choirs. Now she is a veteran of the New Orleans French Quarter, Jazz and Heritage, and Lousiana Black Heritage Festivals and is in demand all over America. This is the first time Brian Carrick’s Algiers Stompers Band and Shirley will perform these fantastic tunes. Shirley is driven by her Christian beliefs and Newark Parish Church is the perfect setting for this magical concert.”

Shirley Alexander and Brian Carrick’s Algiers Stompers are at Newark Parish Church, on Friday May 16th at 6.30pm. Tickets are £15 and £12 and include a glass of wine.

All tickets can be purchased online at www.newarkjazz.co.uk. They are also being sold at Stray’s Books and Coffee shop, Ann et Vin, The Music Shop, The Palace Theatre and Newark Tourist Office.