THE first concert of the year at Ilminster Arts Centre takes place on Twelfth Night, and promises to get 2017 off to a vintage start, with the return of jazz pianist Mike Denham on Friday, January 6.

Mike is a hugely popular performer at the Arts Centre and this concert will take the form of one of his entertaining ‘SpeakEasy’ nights of vintage jazz.

Joining Mike for this journey back in jazz time is clarinetist Mike Snelling. Weymouth-born Mike took up clarinet at the tender age of 10 and he has been a fixture on the UK traditional jazz scene for many years, originally playing with Alex Welsh, and latterly with Chris Barber between 2006-9.

Over the years he has worked alongside many of the world's finest players, including Michael Andrew, "Peanuts" Hucko, Ralph Sutton, Bud Freeman, Buddy Tate, Bob Wilbur and Kenny Davern.

Together the two Mikes will entertain the Arts Centre audience with a foot tapping, nostalgia soaked trip through the jazz classics of yesterday.

Mike Denham is one of the most popular performers at the Arts Centre, and his concerts generally play to a full house.

A brilliant pianist, Mike has a profound and enduring love of early jazz, and his trademark repartee is studded with an array of amusing but informative anecdotes about the world of jazz.

Mike’s repertoire ranges across American jazz from the early 20th century through to 50's Rock and Roll.

He plays classic rags by Scott Joplin, the blues and stomps of Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller, and popular songs by George Gershwin and Irving Berlin, as well as eight-to-the bar boogie and blues from Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons through to the somewhat more up-to-date "Fats" Domino.

This will be an evening of music from the golden age of jazz played by two masterful musicians.

Advance booking is strongly recommended.

Mike Denham’s SpeakEasy, Friday January 6, 8pm.

Tickets cost £12, to book, call the box office on 01460 54973.