DARLINGTON Jazz Festival makes its return for the sixth year this April and organisers are hoping it’s going to be bigger than ever.

Since the festival started in 2012, it has gone from strength to strength. It provides a platform for local and regional talent, whilst continuing to attract national artists prominent on today’s jazz scene.

This year, the festival is expanding to more venues than ever.

The festival will open on Thursday, April 27, with a workshop for musicians of all abilities, led by jazz educator in residence Matt Roberts. The charismatic Darlington-born trumpeter and composer who has recently wowed crowds at sold out gigs with his BigISH Band at the EFG London Jazz Festival will lend his skills and experience to the next generation of talent, before going on to officially kick off the festival when he takes his sextet to Voodoo Café on Friday for a night of hard bop.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be a number of free sessions at venues around the town, including The Quakerhouse and Mr Huttons, with music from Dean Stockdale, the Rick Laughlin Trio and the Abbie Finn Quartet to name but a few.

An evening of swinging big band music from the 1950s to the present day will follow at the recently restored Majestic Theatre, with internationally renowned saxophonist Dave O’Higgins supported by the Durham Alumni Big Band. Dave played various musical instruments from the age of seven, finally settling on the saxophone.

He moved from Derbyshire to London in 1983 to study music at the City University. While studying he started his own jazz quartet and began gigging with NYJO, John Dankworth and Cleo Laine and Icelandic jazz-funk band, Mezzoforte.

Over the years Dave has won various accolades from the British Jazz Awards including Best Tenor Sax. As one of the most vigorously compelling tenor players on the UK scene, Dave regularly features as a part of the Ronnie Scotts Allstars & the BBC Big Band. The Durham Alumni Big Band is composed of past and present members of the Durham County Youth Big Band. Formers winners of the Great North Big Band Festival they are guaranteed to put on a show.

For people left wanting more, there will be a a late-night jam session at The Quakerhouse.

On Sunday morning festivalgoers can enjoy a relaxed brunch at Hash Bar to the sounds of Gypsy jazz from James Birkett and Emma Fisk.

The Friends Meeting House provides the venue for Sunday afternoon’s activities with music from the Vocal Collective and newly formed Locomotive Rhythm, who celebrate the railway heritage of the North East, featuring unique resonant loco wheels, played as percussion instruments.

Darlington Jazz Club will round off the festival on Sunday evening at Hash Music Box with Rick Laughlin, Keith Peberdy and Stuart Ellerton playing the music of Chick Corea, with support from the Alumni All Stars.

Shaune Eland, Darlington Jazz Festival organiser, said:

"The enjoyment of the festival has grown year on year for performers and audiences, and we hope that this year will be no different."

Darlington Jazz Festival runs from Thursday April 27 to Sunday April 30 and marks the start of Darlington Arts Festival, which will run throughout May.

Full details of the festival line up and ticket information can be found at darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk