Celebrating its 10th year, the Coventry Jazz Festival has its strongest ever line-up, including UK exclusive appearances by international jazz stars Hugh Masekela and Randy Brecker. Many events will be taking place in the refurbished and extended Belgrade Theatre (including free foyer gigs) but there are also concerts at Warwick Arts Centre with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra on Thursday and John Etheridge’s Zappatista’s closing the festival on Monday.

The festival begins on Thursday with the first of two performances by young musicians when the Henry VIII Big Band meets the Drumestra. On Saturday, it is the turn of the Phoenix Collective – in total over 100 Coventry youngsters will be performing in these two events.

One of the most charismatic figures in South African culture, Hugh Masekela brings his all-star African band to the Belgrade for an exhilarating opening night show.

Then on Friday, the BBC Big Band includes two special guests, saxophonist Alan Barnes and singer Liane Carroll. Bryan Corbett’s quartet (plus Ed Jones and Deirdre Cartwright) provides the late night entertainment in the new Belgrade venue – the B2.

Saturday sees the return of Jazz Jamaica with their tribute to Trojan records.

New York City heavyweights Randy Brecker and his Electric Band headline Sunday night with jaw-dropping funk action from an all-star band. UK award-winners Empirical will be on hand afterwards to demonstrate that jazz is alive and kicking on this side of the pond too.

There are plenty of treats to be had during the day. On Saturday in B2 it’s Phil Robson’s acclaimed ‘Six Strings and the Beat’ and on Sunday guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor performs solo.

Two concerts make use of historic buildings. John Surman and Howard Moody perform in Coventry Cathedral on Saturday and Dhafer Youssef and Wolfgang Muthspiel appear in Coventry’s medieval guildhall on Sunday

Finally there is a brace of free events in Priory Place over the weekend featuring Soothsayers, The Annie Whitehead Experience, Nearly Dan and Mephoney.