A GROUP of talented young jazz musicians, The Matt Carter Septet, are coming to Ilminster this August.

Led by Matt Carter on piano, the band line-up features award-winning young musician Alexandra Ridout on trumpet, Harry Greene on tenor sax, Jonny Ford on alto sax, Harry Maund on trombone, Joe Lee on bass and Luca Caruso on drums.

The Matt Carter Septet was formed during Matt’s first year at The Royal Academy of music, and is made up of musicians studying on the course.

On Friday, August 9 they will be performing at Ilminster Arts Centre – a chance to catching these rising stars before they hit the stratosphere.

The septet play Matt’s arrangements of classic American songbook standards and Matt’s original compositions, some of which draw from this tradition, some of which take inspiration from other styles of music as well, such as gospel and folk.

Matt Carter is studying jazz piano at the Royal Academy of Music, but is already a seasoned performer, having performed with artists such as Joss Stone, Mica Paris, Beverley Knight and Angelo Starr, as well as jazz legends Alan Barnes, Brendon Allen and Greg Abate.

Alexandra Ridout was crowned the winner of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016 at the age of 17, and then named British Jazz Awards ‘Rising Star’ two years later in 2018.

See the septet on August 9 at 8pm at Ilminster Arts Centre. Tickets cost £16.

To book call 01460 54973, or for more information visit www.themeetinghouse.org.uk