LIVING jazz legend John Dankworth makes a return visit to the Concorde Club, Eastleigh this month.

For more than 40 years, Dankworth has enjoyed a career as a composer, conductor and musician, his musical eloquence has made him a star of concerts all over the world.

He was born in London and early signs of his musical talent led him to the Royal Academy of Music when he was 17.

Now an OBE, the distinguished performer has received many accolades including Grammy and Oscar nominations. Together with his wife, "first lady of jazz" Cleo Laine, he was named Great Britain's Variety Club's Show Business Personality of the Year 1982.

Having taken up the saxophone to play modern jazz, he was crowned musician of the year in the Melody Maker jazz poll every year from 1949 to 1955 - the only jazz artist to receive this distinction.

At about the same time his career as a writer expanded to include musical theatre. His first film score, for Karel Reisz's We Are the Lambeth Boys, appeared in 1958.

Welcoming John to the Concorde Club, manager director Cole Mathieson said: "John's musical ability is second to none.

"He is an amazing and fascinating man who is not compromised by conventional musical boundaries."

John Dankworth is at the Concorde Club on Wednesday, April 21. Tickets cost from £11. Call the box office: 023 8061 3989.