World music bands will take part this year

Organisers of the 20th Brecon Jazz Festival say they have attracted World Music stars to this year's festival in a move to get more young people involved.

Musicians from Africa and Cuba influenced by jazz will provide a different slant to the festival which last year attracted more than 50,000 people.

It is a watershed year for the festival after a change of management and a recent cash injection by the Welsh Assembly.

Brecon is widely regarded by musicians from all five continents as Britain's top jazz festival Rhodri Morgan, First Minister

Earlier this year the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) agreed to pay �270,000 over three years to help the management of a new festival company.

A further �110,000 was committed by the assembly government to clear the financial debts of the previous management company.

Younger audience

The 20th festival, which takes place between 8 and 10 August, will also feature a few surprise packages.

It will be broadcast exclusively by BBC television and radio as part of a three year deal with festival organisers signed in 2001.

Entertainer Max Boyce will perform in Stan Tracey's Under Milk Wood which marks the 50th anniversary of Dylan Thomas' death.

Organisers hope to top the 50,000 visitors to last year's event which brought in an estimated �1m to the local economy of mid Wales.

Andy Eagle want to build on the festival's reputation

"This really is the most international bill we've had at Brecon with musicians coming from all over the world to join our party," said artistic director, Jed Williams.

"The festival also gives more than a glance to the future with a number of musicians who should appeal to a younger, more inquisitive audience attracted to the many forms of contemporary world music influenced by jazz."

But the festival will also feature old favourites such as Humphrey Lyttleton and George Melly.

The Woody Herman Orchestra is one of many acts back by popular demand.

Brecon Jazz will be launched by Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan, himself a jazz fan.

"Brecon is widely regarded by musicians from all five continents as Britain's top jazz festival," he said.

George Melly will again be performing this year

"It brings thousands of visitors to Wales from around the world and helps to build Wales' international reputation for staging major cultural events."

The festival is now run by Brecon International Festival of Jazz Ltd, under the control of Theatr Brycheiniog.

The theatre's director Andy Eagle said: "We were involved to a lesser extent last year and we've been brought fully on board now to take this great event into the future.

"Brecon is acclaimed as the best British jazz festival, and we want to build on that reputation, and the significant role of the festival as a landmark Welsh event."

Other treats awaiting jazz buffs will be the appearance of Brian Kellock, described by the New Statesman as 'the greatest pianist in the UK'; the BBC Radio Jazz Awards Rising Star 2002, Soweto Kinch; and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.