Gregory Porter is star turn of April's Gateshead International Jazz Festival

Grammy award-winning singer Gregory Porter returns after his sell-out show last year to open this year’s festival. Saturday night’s stellar double bill opens with leading British saxophonist and festival favourite Courtney Pine plus fellow Mercury nominee and Mobo award-winning pianist Zoe Rahman, who play the music from their acclaimed album Song (The Ballad Book). In contrast, trumpeter, composer (renowned for his work on Spike Lee’s movies), and former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers Terence Blanchard brings his new quintet, the E-Collective, in a powerful fusion of funk, R&B and rock.

Headlining Sunday night is American soul maestro Charles Bradley. His well-documented against-all-odds rise saw him transcend a bleak life on the streets before being discovered by Daptone Records. Following the release of his debut album No Time Dreaming, his performances have earned rave reviews.

Other artists include award-winning singer-pianist Liane Carroll, described by Jamie Cullum as "one of the greatest singers we have in this country". Saxophonist John Surman emerged as part of a gifted generation of British jazz artists in the 1960s – proving the age gap is no barrier to creativity, he is joined in a brand new quartet by the Alexander Hawkins Trio, featuring three of the UK’s finest young jazz performers.

British-Asian clarinettist and composer, Arun Ghosh, has been captivating audiences and critics alike with his trademark IndoJazz sound and Ibrahim Maalouf, widely regarded as one of the finest trumpeters of his generation and a pioneering figure in the contemporary jazz world, fuses pop, electro, soul, hip-hop with the music of his Lebanese roots in the UK premiere of his super-charged new Impulse CD Red and Black Light.

Café Society Swing features stellar vocalists and some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians in a show that tells the true story of the legendary New York nightclub which promoted racial equality and great music. Following sold-out gigs at Ronnie Scott’s and the Brecon Jazz Festival we’re pleased to welcome award-winning British jazz saxophonist Simon Spillett and his quartet to the festival in a tribute to a revered British modern jazz star of the 50s and 60s, the late Tubby Hayes. The performance will follow a screening of the documentary film, Tubby Hayes: A Man in a Hurry, released earlier this year.

Fans of free jazz and improvisation will be treated to a solo performance from one of the most admired and influential saxophonists on the planet, Evan Parker.

Award-winning British punk-jazz-funk specialists, WorldService Project bring to the festival high-octane experimental but accessible music – think Frank Zappa, Loose Tubes and Stravinsky, played loud.

The festival, produced by Sage Gateshead and London-based music producers Serious, is now in its 12th year. Ros Rigby, performance programme director says: “This year’s festival reflects the diversity of jazz in the 21st Century, including well- established names alongside some very exciting younger voices – we hope audiences will take the opportunity to find their own paths across the programme and try some new things as well as enjoying their favourites.”

The ever popular free programme of jazz on the Concourse returns, where on the Saturday BBC Radio 3 will present a selection of national and international jazz artists recorded for a future edition of Jazz Line Up and on the Sunday Jazz North-East, celebrating its 50th anniversary year will present their choice of local and Northern artists.

There will festival workshops, family fun, talks, late night club and much more still to be announced. Keep an eye on the website for further updates.

* Bookers can take advantage of the Jazz Multi-Buy – the more concerts booked across the weekend the more money saved.

Tickets are on general sale from sagegateshead.com and at Ticket Office either in person or by calling 0191-443-4661