HIGHLY acclaimed jazz bassist Alec Dankworth will be injecting a heady dose of Spanish sunshine into rural Dorset when his quintet perform two exclusive concerts on the Artsreach circuit this month.

Alec’s long-standing love of all things Spanish provided the inspiration for this outstanding group. Audiences can expect to hear Metheny, Corea and Rodrigo reinvented alongside traditional folk songs and originals in flamenco rhythms, creating a wonderful and genuinely Spanish evening.

Alec is the internationally acclaimed son of jazz legends Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine and his Spanish Accents quintet consists of musicians of the highest pedigree. Alec has performed with a host of top jazz artists, including Nigel Kennedy, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Van Morrison, Mose Allison, Stephane Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim and Courtney Pine, among many others.

Joining Alec on double bass will be saxophonist Ben Castle, violinist Chris Garrick, guitarist Phil Robson and percussionist Demi Garcia.

Ben is a familiar name to those who follow the UK jazz scene. He has been a regular player on the jazz circuit performing with a whole host of acts as diverse as Stan Tracey and Jamie Cullum. In 2001 he was awarded the Rising Star award at the British Jazz Awards.

Guitarist Phil co-leads the band Partisans with Julian Siegel and has recorded two CDs with the Partisans to date. In 2002 Phil released his debut solo CD, Impish, with special guest John Taylor on piano. He has just completed a national tour and is a regular partner of the Irish vocalist Christine Tobin.

Violinist Chris Garrick is widely recognised as the foremost jazz violinist in Britain and is a regular on the Artsreach circuit. He recently toured with guitarist John Etheridge, as well as his quartet in a tribute to Stephane Grappelli.

Demi Garcia is a freelance drummer/percussionist specialising in flamenco and Latin styles. He plays with a number of groups ranging from more traditional to the experimental, fusing flamenco with other genres including Jazz, Arabic and Indian.

For an evening of jazz with a Spanish flavour, this is a real must-see for jazz lovers.

Get lost in the music at Gillingham School on Friday, May 15 (7.30pm, call 01747 833844 to book, tickets cost £9/£5) and at Portesham village hall the following night at 8pm (call 01305 871780, tickets cost £8/£5).