JACQUI Dankworth and her Musicians will be performing at the Tavistock Sings Music Festival, promoted by Tavistock Forward, on Sunday, May 2 at 12.15 in Tavistock Town Hall.

Simon Ible, the Tavistock Festival director, said: 'We are delighted to have attracted such enormous talent to this year's festival. It will give everyone the opportunity to hear one of the UK's best jazz singers and her band'.

Daughter of the legendary John Dankworth and Cleo Lane, Jacqui was brought up surrounded by music. Her first forays onto the stage were as an actress and she worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and John Dexter's company playing a multitude of roles.

She soon turned to musicals and began playing in lead roles in musicals in the West End.

The singing bug had hit and she left the London stage to concentrate on a recording career.

She quickly established herself and her reputation grew. In 1999 she was asked to perform new arrangements of Gershwin's Classics with the BBC Big Band at the Barbican and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Next a project was formed which she fronted until recently: Field of Blue.

A simple acoustic band performing mostly original compositions with Harvey Brough. Together they toured extensively around the UK and Europe playing to packed houses.

Field of Blue recorded two albums, an eponymous CD in 1999 and the second, Still, was released in 2000 on Black Box records, both to wide acclaim. Another release followed in 2001 with James Pearson: For All We Know.

As a side project Jacqui formed the three-part harmony group, The Passion with singers Liane Carroll and Sara Colman.

They released an album last year entitled One Good Reason.

Her most recent album is entitled As the Sun Shines Down on Me and copies will be available at the Tavistock Sings Festival.

Jacqui Dankworth is in great demand and last year toured with the world famous Brodsky Quartet. She is to record with them on their next release with other guests on the album being Sting, Elvis Costello, Bjork and Sir Paul McCartney.

Tickets can be purchased at Tavistock Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall Building, Bedford Square, Tavistock. Tel: 01822 612938 or Mansbridge and Balment Estate Agents, 9 Brook Street, Tavistock. Tel 01822 612345.

Tickets are £12 including a lunchtime buffet available when booked in advance from either the tourist information centre in Tavistock or by post.

Tickets for just the music and no food are £8 and are available at either of the booking offices or on the door.