This year’s Maritime Jazz Festival promises more razzmatazz than ever before.

As a taster, the event opens on Wednesday, September 19 at the Simply Italian restaurant in Rochester High Street. BBC Wales TV presenter and award-winning singer Tina May will croon a mix of easy listening and jazz standards.

The festival gets under way in earnest on Friday, September 21 at the Britannia Theatre at Chatham’s Dickens World with a Film and TV theme.

Actor and pianist Dorian Ford, who starred in the movie Mrs Henderson Presents, will be joined by trumpet player Matt Gough and band.

Dorian has also appeared in BBC Productions such as Richard III, cast as Prince Edward.

Noted for his lyrical style, he will be accompanied by Matt Gough on trumpet, Roan Kearsey-Lawson on vibes, Chris Nickolls on drums and Syd Lawrence bass player Andre Messeder.

Other headline acts at the festival include alto-saxophonist Tommaso Starace and his quartet showcasing the music of Michel Petrucciani, whose compositions were conceived in the American jazz community.

The next day – Thursday, September 20 – at the same venue, BBC South East presenter Rob Smith will introduce star acts including funky New Orleans street band Blew Tubes featuring Ray Butcher and joined by jump jive saxophonist Tracey Mendham.

There will then be a carnival atmosphere of Latin, Brazilian and swing music performed by Steve Rubie, who has appeared in the BBC TV Proms, Jonathan Gee on piano, Larry Bartley on bass and Roan Kearsey-Lawson on drums.

Ryan Sanders and his Swing Thing Big Band, featuring saxophonist Jim Hastings, will send the audience off with a rousing finale.

The festival will end with a roast lunch to the strains of jazz legend Tommy Whittle and singer Barbara Jay.

See them at the 144Club at the Roffen, Rochester, on Sunday September 23.

“This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever,” said organiser Roan Kearsey-Lawson. “We have tried to include something for all music fans and not just those who like traditional jazz.”

Tickets for the Maritime Jazz Festival are for sale from £14 to £16. Contact the box office 01634 365453 or visitwww.maritimejazzfestival.co.uk for details of every gig and to buy tickets online using PayPal.

Sultry sound from Jacqui.

Classy Jacqui Dankworth has been dubbed “one of our finest singers, regardless of category”.

The daughter of the late Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine brings her sultry vocals to Frant Church, near Tunbridge Wells. Her quartet features pianist Charlie Wood, bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Mike Smith.

Before focusing on her singing career, Jacqui was an actress with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Her most recent album, It Happens Quietly, carried added poignancy, as it was the last work by her father before his death in 2010.

See the jazz singer on Friday, September 21. Tickets £20. Call 01892 750665.