TOP musicians will be jetting across the Atlantic and heading for Eastleigh tomorrow for a star-studded jazz showcase.

The Concorde Club in Stoneham Lane has become the annual stage for the crme de la crme of visiting jazz artistes.

The Anglo-American All Stars feature an electric mix of top jazz musicians from both sides of the Atlantic - many of whom are in the UK for only a short time to appear at prestigious jazz festivals.

This year's line-up sees master of "stride" piano Ralph Sutton, top clarinettist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski and trumpet virtuoso Jon-Erik Kelso topping the bill.

Ralph Sutton has been hailed as one of the best pianists in jazz today by both critics and fellow musicians.

Singing his praises has been famous conductor Andre Previn and the late great Bing Crosby once said: "I cannot think of anybody who is better than Ralph Sutton!"

Fellow American Ken Peplowski plays clarinet and tenor sax in a style which recalls the 1940s when swing and bebop were popular.

Celebrating his 40th birthday this year, Ken has been in the music business for most of his life, beginning his professional career at the age of nine with local radio and TV appearances.

He has played with both Tommy Dorsey's and Benny Goodman's orchestras and has achieved much acclaim.

The Concorde Club has become a mecca for famous jazz musicians.

It is providing a fantastic fanfare to the millennium by launching a new hotel development.

In future top musicians jetting in from around the globe for gigs at the Concorde will be able to check in at the 35-bedroom hotel, which is due to open next spring.

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