The legendary Jimmy Smith, godfather of the jazz organ, is the latest star to be signed up to play Coventry’s 1999 Jazz Festival in August. He flies in from the United States to play the Hotel Leofric on the evening of Friday 27 August -–his first ever gig in the Midlands.

It’s quite a coup for the festival. Philadelphia-born Smith is regarded as one of the greats of jazz, the innovator who put the Hammond organ on the map. It’s more than 40 years since his debut release for Blue Note Records but after 60 albums he’s still at the top.

He’s credited as a major influence on a whole generation of British musicians, from Stevie Winwood to John Mayall and Georgie Fame.

For his Coventry gig he’ll be joined by drummer Clark Tracey, son of keyboard legend Stan Tracey and soon to feature in the forthcoming film "The Talented Mr Ripley".

Jimmy Smith completes the list of headliners for the five-day festival, which features Georgie Fame, Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django, Jazz Jamaica and King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, among many others.

Roy Brunt, a member of the organising committee, said,

"It really is a coup. Jimmy Smith is the Frank Sinatra of the jazz organ – both the instrument’s greatest ambassador and its greatest interpreter. He’ll be playing for the first time ever in the Midlands."

To reserve tickets phone 01203 832303.