AT the club members' request, Australia's first lady of jazz - Janet Seidel - is coming back to the Belvedere Jazz and Music Club.

Janet, who is based in Sydney, is a vocalist and pianist who has an international following.

With 17 CDs under her belt, and global tours, with particular fan base in Japan being consistently named in the top 10 jazz vocalist polls there, her visit to the little club in Rawreth is quite the treat.

US writer David Nathan has made a fitting summary on All About Jazz, saying: “With her intimate style, great feel for the lyrics of songs she sings, Seidel is one of those vocalists who is as much a story teller as she is a singer. The way she goes about handling the music comes off as a fortuitous blend of Blossom Dearie and Doris Day with an occasional nod to Julie London, although she is somewhat jazzier than the latter two. Like Diana Krall, she doubles on piano and has an exquisite, gentle, and agile voice and honours each tune."

Janet will be bringing her band with her. They are David Seidel (double bass) who has played with the likes of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Del Shannon, Rod McKuen, Cilla Black and Ricky May; Chuck Morgan, who is one of Australia’s in demand guitarists, working with leading jazz musicians and acknowledged widely as a highly talented and versatile musician; and

Cyril Bevan, an internationally acclaimed drummer, who has worked five years with Winifred Attwell and 16 years at London’s Talk of The Town, two years with Oscar Peterson and various West End shows.

The gig takes place at the Belvedere Jazz & Music Club at 8pm, May 11.

The Chichester, Old London Road, Rawreth, Nr Wickford.

Admission is £10.

Carvery and meals are available from 6:30pm.

The Belvedere is on 07850 607075, email: belvederejazz@gmail.com