SAX player to the stars, Snake Davis, heads Christchurch’s free award-winning Stompin’ On The Quomps smooth jazz festival on Saturday.

Snake Davis has performed and recorded with music legends including Ray Charles, James Brown, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, George Michael and Beyonce.

He also devised and played the distinctive sax solo on Take That’s smash hit ‘One Million Love Songs’.

Snake’s own bands take their inspiration from the gritty American jazz-soul of the 1950s and 1960s and players like Earl Bostic, Junior Walker and King Curtis.

Snake Davis is just one of ten bands performing at the 23rd Stompin’ On The Quomps.

Other highlights include singer Jacqui Hicks of popular British jazz-fusion group Shakatak, who is performing with Sarah Bolter’s Not Just Sax and later with The Taverner’s Big Band.

The festival also includes popular blues singer Zoe Schwarz and her band Blue Commotion which is performing at venues across Britain and local jazz-fusion band Spiral.

The Taverners Big Band, which closes the event, will be conducted by Pete Long, musical director of The Ronnie Scott’s Big Band who also played the Baritone and Oboe solos on The Stereophonics recreation of ‘Handbags and Gladrags’.

The programme starts at 12 noon with Spiral followed by The Bournemouth University Big Band at 1pm.

Stompin’ On The Quomps, a non-profit event, is sponsored by Cookes Furniture and supported by Arts Council England and The Bournemouth Airport Community Fund.

For full programme details, see website stompin.org.