Soul-jazz vibes great and clubbers’ favourite Roy Ayers tops the bill at this year’s City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival.

Run by Derry City and Strabane Council, the Derry fest is one of the biggest jazz events in Ireland in terms of attendance and profile, and spans the May Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 28 April-Monday 2 May, the global UNESCO-backed International Jazz Day falling during its run.

The festival embraces ticketed events at venues and also includes a lot of free-entry music that ups the general atmosphere and wider city involvement.

Other highlights this year include singer Liane Carroll (afternoon show) and guitarist Nigel Mooney both at Bennigans (on the Friday); a BBC Radio Ulster showcase at the Guildhall with Dana Masters (Saturday); Jean Toussaint with his Art Blakey Roots and Herbs project at the Playhouse (Saturday); and the Byron Wallen quintet at Bennigans (Sunday). Ayers appears at St Columb’s Hall also on the Sunday.

The masterclass programme features bassist John Goldsby of the WDR big band; ex-Maceo trombonist Dennis Rollins, who appeared with his Velocity trio at last year’s festival in one of the stand-out shows; and drummer Shaney Forbes of Empirical.

The festival website is: www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com