North Wales Jazz continues its programme of concerts at the Royal British Legion, Llay, near Wrexham, with the violin-led Sarah Smith Quartet on Tuesday (March 11).

The Sarah Smith Quartet plays Gypsy jazz with authentic passion, fire and virtuosity, keeping alive the spirit of the great Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

Bandleader Sarah Smith, a fine violinist, has been awarded the accolade of Best Young Performer by North Country Magazine and, as a member of the band Inspector Gadjo, won the prestigious Gypsy Idol competition at the Gossington International Gypsy Jazz Festival in 2009.

Sarah, who has performed across Europe and Canada, has appeared with the great Dutch gypsy rhythm guitarist Martin Limberger and with one of North Wales’s favourite players, guitar master Gary Potter.

For a time, Sarah was a regular BBC session musician and has made many appearances on radio and TV.

Performing with Sarah is the stunning Andy Mackenzie, a leading jazz guitarist with many international festivals, CDs and DVDs to his name.

He has recorded with well-known American guitarists Frank Vignola, Jimmy Bruno and John Jorgenson among many others and it was with John that he recorded the Hot Club soundtrack music for the Charlize Theron movie Head in the Clouds.

Andy is well-known to North Wales audiences as a member of the immensely popular Gadjo Jazz.

Guitarist Tim Smith provides the driving rhythm that is at the heart of gypsy jazz and is also the lead vocalist of the group.

With Sarah, Tim has performed for the Prince of Wales, and at the 2010 international blues/jazz festival “Plein La Teuf” in Rouen, France.

Completing the line-up of the Sarah Smith Quartet, playing gypsy jazz a la Hot Club and a whole lot more, is 13-year-old Oli Smith on double bass.

The performance starts at 8.30pm and admission is £6.50, concessions £5.50, school children £3. Further information is available from North Wales Jazz

on 01745 812260 and at www.northwalesjazz.org.uk.