EASTLEIGH'S Concorde Club plays host to one of the USA's most unusual jazz musicians on Wednesday, April 16.

Not only is Judy Car-michael one of the world's leading interpreters of stride piano and swing, she is also a recognised expert on the history of jazz piano and has travelling the USA lecturing on the subject.

Judy's concentration on the classic style of playing jazz piano led early supporter Count Basie to nickname her "Stride", acknowledging the command with which she played the music considered to be the most technically and physically demanding of all jazz piano styles.

A native of California, Judy maintains a busy concert schedule at US venues like Carnegie Hall, but also tours throughout the world.

In 1992 Judy was the first jazz musician to be sponsored by her government to tour China, and through the US Information Agency has played in India,Portugal, Brazil and Singapore.

She has written two books on stride piano and numerous general articles on the subject of jazz.

Judy has also served on a variety of music panels at the National Endowment for the Arts and is one of the few jazz pianists to be honoured as a Steinway Artist.

For tickets and more information, call 023 8061 3989.