ONE OF the most exciting and versatile British jazz musicians is coming to Southampton as part of a UK tour.

Acclaimed saxophonist, bandleader and MC, Soweto Kinch has attracted the attention of two of the most important jazz luminaries in Britain in saxophonist Courtney Pine and double-bassist Gary Crosby.

With the recent release of his debut album A Life In The Day Of B19: Tales Of The Tower Block , a follow-up to the acclaimed, Mercury-nominated Conversations With The Unseen, Soweto brings a flavour of the album to the Turner Sims Concert Hall on Tuesday December 5.

This new album is the first of a duology and tells the interweaving stories of three characters from the B19 Tower Block through the mediums of rap, jazz and monologues from acclaimed newsreader Moira Stewart. It is a truly groundbreaking project executed with Soweto's infectious humour and an intelligent approach to songwriting.

It follows three fictional characters as they each come to terms with the pitfalls of celebrity, tempestuous, romantic entanglements and the solitude of the musicians quest.

Although his music is firmly rooted in jazz, Soweto has been deeply influenced by music from the likes of De La Soul, Q Tip and The Roots and this summer he took part in the TocaBrahma Festival, playing alongside Giles Peterson, Seu Jorge, Sway and Dynamite MC.

An exceptionally gifted musician specialising in the alto saxophone, Kinch has acquired a glittering array of awards including a MOBO award for Best Jazz act and the White Foundation International Saxophone competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the BBC Radio Jazz Award for Rising Star.

Soweto will be joined on stage by Femi Temowo on guitar, Neil Charles on double bass and Troy Miller on drums and the concert starts at 8pm.

For tickets and more information call the box office on 023 8059 5151.