Pete Allen Jazz Band

This trad band has become a fixture, missing out only once in 20 years and it attracts a dedicated following wherever it plays, this year at a new venue, a marquee at Old Lion Court.

The Cotswold-based musicians packed the marquee as Allen, pictured below, played and sang his Satchmo impressions. One watcher said: “He is even beginning to look like Louis Armstrong!”

In recent years the band has played in the bigger Brewin Dolphin marquee in The Parade and because it is so popular perhaps the organising committee should consider moving it to the top venue in the Priory Gardens.

The sun beat down on the marquee as Allen played old favourites backed by his band of top musicians.

Once again Graham Woodhouse proved he is up there with the trombone greats as is drummer Ritchie Burns, who has worked with jazz legends, including Kenny Ball and Chris Barber.

There is something particularly British about sitting and listening to gentle jazz being played on a hot summer afternoon, holding a glass of Pimms and just chilling out.

Richie Bryant All Stars

Every year Richie Bryant, one of the best drummers on the British music scene, puts together a band of top musicians just for the Marlborough jazz festival and was rewarded last year with the Deacon Cup, voted for by festival goers, for the best performer of the 2009 MIJF.

Bryant, who was formerly with the Terry Lightfoot Band and toured for years backing jazz legend Acker Bilk, roped in pianist John Pearce, sax player Alan Barnes, bassist Dave Green and trombonist Roy Williams.

And they lived up to their names putting in star performances although they were squashed into a corner of the Castle and Ball Hotel.

In previous years jazz bands played in the spacious gardens behind the hotel but this year, for whatever reason, they and their audience were squeezed into the confines of the lounge.

Once again Bryant led his merry men through a repertoire of jazz and swing that won them deserved applause.

Julie Felix

Once upon a time this legendary folk singer, who made it big at about the same time as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, filled massive concert halls around the world and probably still could because no-one who has ever heard her or listened to the message in her song could ever forget her.

But on Saturday she played in the Church Hall to an audience of no more than 30 and clearly loved every minute.

What’s not generally known is that Felix, pictured below, is a very accomplished acoustic guitar player who provided her own accompaniment.

She was born in 1938 and has reached an age when most women are content to sit back and take it easy but she still loves being on tour.

She topped the charts in her day with songs like Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo, If I Could and Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright which, of course featured in her two-hour one-woman show on Saturday. She gave a memorable performance.

606 The Gospel Group

So named because they meet once a month at London’s 606 Club the gospel singers are led by two principle vocalists, Tracey Campbell and Liz Swain.

Until recently Tracey was a member of the London community Gospel Choir that has taken part in the Marlborough jazz festival previously.

On Saturday they had to sing to a disappointingly small audience in St Mary’s Church. However, their gospel strains rang out loud and clear and delighted the faithful few.

A choir of this stature really needs better billiing and deserves a much bigger audience.

Kennet Vale Brass

It may have been going for 100 years or more but this band moves with the times and on Saturday gave a performance of oompah-jazz that thrilled a large crown in front of the New Road bandstand.

Traditionally brass bands stick to their own genre.

But Kennet Vale musicians are versatile and played a selection ranging from trad to New Orleans and even African-beat with old favourites such as Blueberry Hill.