THE next act to appear at the re-launched Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club will be the Tom Harrison Cleveland Watkiss Quartet.

As part of the night, the group will be performing Tom’s latest project, Music Beyond Compare: The Music of Duke Ellington.

Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the most influential figures in Black Music during the last century, and his partnership with Billy Strayhorn one of the most fruitful.

Tom’s Ellington Project, which looked at both classic and more obscure tunes by the Duke and his erstwhile collaborator, follows a year of intensive study of the jazz giant’s music.

“In the project,” Tom says, “we're focussing on music where the lines between the two composers’ writing is blurred - Strayhorn compositions that are more rhythmic, and Ellington pieces that are richer and complex harmonically. I think this shows how much they influenced each other throughout their collaboration.”

As well as Tom, featuring prominently in the group is the internationally renowned vocalist Cleveland Watkiss described as the best male vocalist in Britain.

Winner of the best vocalist category in the Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards three years in a row, and best vocalist in the 2010 London Jazz Awards, Cleveland’s performance credits range from Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder, to Nigel Kennedy and The Royal Phiharmonic Orchestra.

Completing the line-up are bassist Daniel Casimir and Irish Jazz Musician of the Year, drummer David Lyttle.

The jazz club takes place at the Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday, February 7, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced £12 and £10 for concessions, available by calling 01206 500900.