Winter Jazz Break brings some hot jazz tunes to the bleak mid winter in Swindon and helps the homeless.

Saxophonist, Len Morphew, presents Jazz Break on Swindon 105.5, a community radio programme covering all things jazz on a Sunday evening. He came up with the idea of a charity concert based on the same concept.

“The show has always tried to support and encourage local jazz musicians and I thought it would be a great idea to do a live event along similar lines,’’ said Len.

Christ Church in Swindon’s Old Town plays hot to the concert which features not only Len’s own band but the Swindon Community Choir and the Shaw Singers both under the guidance of musical director Linda Lee.

Len said: “There will be singing of jazzy, vocal harmonies from more than 30 singers.’’

The Swindon Community Choir meets on a Monday evening at the Central Community Hall, Emlyn Square, Swindon.

The Shaw Singers meet on a Tuesday afternoon at Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon

Shades of Silver will be performing modern jazz from jazz men Horace Silver, Art Blakey and Cannonball Adderley. The trio are led by saxophonist Ray Stephens, with pianist Robert Maycock and guitarist Geoffrey Maycock.

The Delta West Saxophone Quartet has four different sax players, Len himself, Eddie Woodgate on soprano and alto sax, Steve Noakes on tenor and Tony Baker on baritone sax.

Len is again on stage for the second half with Mellow Jazz, who are a spin off group from the Midwest Big Band who play melodic swing and latin jazz.

Charlotte Hicks is the sepcial guest singer and she will join the band on stage singing classics from Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Charlotte runs the Charlotte Johnson School of Dance and Musical Theatre and she was lead singer with the Frank Abrams jazz bands.

Len said: “The show will finish with Ken Jell fronting the Mellow Jazz group for some classic Frank Sinatra material.’’

Winter Jazz Break is in the Old Town church in Cricklade Road, from 8pm tomorrow and will be raising money for Prince William’s charity Centrepoint, whose aim is to give homeless young people a future.

Len said: “I chose Centrepoint as our charity of choice, because I frequently visit my son in Brighton and my daughter in London and am appalled by the number of homeless people sleeping on the streets.

“Centrepoint are doing great work for young peoplepreventing young people from ending up sleeping rough.It seemed especially appropriate for a winter event.’’

Tickets are £7 adults and under 16s free and they are available from 01793 875290 - Flicky Harrison