TWO of the biggest names in jazz are the new figureheads of Kentwood Show Choir.

Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth, top left, are the joint patrons of the choir after being invited to fill the roles by musical director Sheila Harrod.

Dame Cleo and her clarinettist and saxophonist husband Sir John have been performing since the Fifties and have forged close links with Kentwood over the years.

But Sheila was delighted when the couple accepted her offer of making their ties even stronger.

"We have performed with them many times," said Shelia, pictured top right. "She has always been an icon and somebody I have looked up to. I always had this vision of her one day fronting my choir and my husband just said go for it'.

"After about two years I finally plucked up the courage to pick up the phone and I spoke to Sir John and he said they would be delighted to be joint patrons.

Cleo and Sir John attended Kentwood's 40th anniversary concert three years ago at the Wyvern.

The Kentwood Show Choir has performed regularly with Cleo and John and have been special guests at The Stables, the theatre owned by the stars at their Buckingham-shire home.

The couple married in 1958 and in the same year Cleo starred in a play at London's famous Royal Court Theatre and went on to perform in several high-profile musicals as well as having a top 10 hit with You'll Answer To Me.

In 1979 she received the OBE from the Queen for services to music and four years later she gained her first Grammy for her live recording of the 1983 Carnegie concert.

For more information about Kentwood Show Choir log on to www.kentwoodchoir.co.uk.