Brecon Jazz 2008 underway

The 2008 HSBC Brecon Jazz Festival got underway with revellers keen to enjoy themselves despite warnings of inclement weather.

After a couple of tasters including Jools Holland and a concert of Welsh bands filmed for TV on the Thursday night, festivities officially commenced on a pleasantly dry Friday night with the traditional parade by the Adamant Band from Cardiff.

Wales's First Minister Rhodri Morgan opened the festival with a recollection of how he became hooked on jazz while visiting New Orleans in his twenties, and was pleased to see that many young people today were getting the jazz bug too.

An all-star band including Joe Temperley, Scott Hamilton and Martin Taylor were assembled for an anniversary show at the Market Hall (pictured above) - organisers were keen to set the tone by having the concert start bang on time while ticket holders who thought they'd arrived in plenty of time were still waiting to get in.

My highlight for Friday night was the first ever appearance in Wales of legendary singer Mark Murphy. He didn't disappoint with a display of his stunning vocal range and interpretations of standards with a special focus on Cole Porter and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Aside from the official programme the Brecon Fringe offered an array of upfront jazz, funk and blues from local bands, notably Jonny Bruce, Martha Skilton, and sixteen-year-old blues sensation Virgil McMahon on guitar.

Virgil and the Accelerators is a true family affair, with father Hendry on lead vocals and bass, and Virgil's fourteen-year-old brother Gabriel on drums.

See more photos of Brecon Jazz 2008 on the BBC website.

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