CALSTOCK Arts held its first Women in Jazz event last weekend, building on the success of the Calstock Jazz and Blues Festival that last took place in the village in 2015.

Calstock Arts programmer Kate Gamm has a particular interest in raising awareness of female jazz musicians, from established names to emerging performers.

The weekend launched on Friday with a performance by Interchange, a newly formed ten piece female ensemble led by National Youth Jazz Orchestra conductor Issie Barratt. It was quite a feat to fit all ten (plus instruments) onto a small stage but fit they did, playing to an audience treated to some outstanding new compositions.

Saturday night saw a return visit by The Printmakers, featuring two high profile female musicians on the UK scene. Led by pianist Nikki Iles, the band members conveyed their love of song writers as diverse as Joni Mitchell and Harold Arlen, beautifully interpreted by award winning vocalist Norma Winstone.

The weekend finished in fine style on Sunday afternoon with an afternoon of jazz standards from three female singers based in Cornwall and Dorset.

Jo Bell, Tina Learmonth and Lou Phillips, accompanied on piano by musical director Helen Porter, played to a packed house of supporters.