CALSTOCK is gearing up for its first ever jazz and blues festival next month with the aim of encompassing the whole community — both jazz and non jazz fans alike.

The festival organisers have managed, despite a tough climate for arts funding, to secure a grant of £6,530 from FEAST, a partnership between Arts Council England and Cornwall Council.

Closer to home Calstock Parish Council is pledging £250 for 'Junk Jazz', a programme of percussion workshops for young people in the area.

Every venue in the village is taking part in the festival from October 26-28 with a wide variety of acts but organisers had to rethink their programme after the untimely death of one of the stars who had been due to perform.

Trumpeter Abram Wilson, who was 38, recently died after a battle with cancer that he had kept largely private. Abram, a prominent player and composer in the UK contemporary jazz scene, had been due to play the closing gig of the inaugural festival.

Instead, his slot on Sunday, October 28, will be taken by another big name in jazz circles, drummer Clark Tracey. The son of the UK's leading jazz pianist, Stan Tracey, he has more than 30 years' experience playing alongside some of the biggest artists in British jazz, including Ronnie Scott and John Surman. He has recorded more than 90 albums and received the 'best drums' award at both the British Jazz Awards and Ronnie Scott Awards. 

Abram Wilson played at Clark Tracey's jazz club in Hertfordshire just two weeks before his death. For the Calstock gig, Tracey has put together a brand new quintet including one of Wilson's quartet — the pianist Reuben James — as well as Henry Armburg Jennings, one of the most sought-after trumpeters of his generation. Rising stars Adam King on double bass and alto saxophonist Chris Maddock complete the line-up. 

Calstock Jazz and Blues Festival chairman Alastair Tinto said: 'Abram Wilson's death was a genuine shock to us and obviously a blow to the whole British jazz scene.

'But we're hugely pleased to have been able to secure Clark Tracey to close the festival, and it's fitting that he'll be playing with one of Abram Wilson's quartet on the night.'

Other big jazz names booked for the festival include Clare Teal, Dave O' Higgins and Nicolas Meier. Teal, who headlines on the Saturday night, has twice been named British Jazz singer of the Year, and was BBC Jazz Singer of the Year in 2006. She's also a regular presenter on BBC Radio Two. 

Mr Tinto said there had been a terrific reaction to the festival with all the venues from the pubs, to the village hall and Calstock Arts Old Chapel involved. Complementing the headline acts will be local bands, workshops and even jazz for the tiny tots.

'The ticket sales are very encouraging and the bed and breakfast establishments are starting to fill up.

'It's all been a very positive response so far and even people who are not jazz fans are interested. I am very very confident that it will be successful.'

l Tickets are now on sale through the website http://www.calstockjazzfestival.co.uk">www.calstockjazzfestival.co.uk or telephone 01822 833183.