TERRY Lightfoot has been at the forefront of the British Jazz scene since 1956 when his band played its first major concert at London's Royal Festival Hall.

And next week he visits Newport for his first performance at the Riverfront Theatre. As part of the theatre's Down by the River music festival the 70-year-old is this year celebrating a golden jubilee as a band leader.

Numerous leading lights of traditional jazz were members of Terry's earlier bands on their way to fame in their own right. Kenny Ball, Freddy Randall, Alan Elsdon, Roy Williams, Dickie Hawdon and Ginger Baker are just a few of the top class musicians who have been part of Terry's line-up.

His first band was formed in 1955 and quickly became a box office hit on the London club scene. That year, Terry was to play alongside Louis Armstrong with a select band of UK musicians at a welcoming dinner in honour of the great Satchmo at a Soho restaurant.

The encounter was not forgotten by Louis who invited the Terry Lightfoot Band to share the bill with the Armstrong All Stars for the Hello Dolly tour of the UK in 1965.

In October 2000 Terry received a coveted Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

In 1996 he was accorded a British Music Industry Award for Excellence for his CD The Special Magic of Louis Armstrong and five years later the product was re-released to coincide with the nationwide tour which Terry and his band embarked upon in celebration of the Louis Armstrong Centennial.

They performed over 200 shows as the success of the event spilled over into the following year and beyond. This work schedule and the new show, Strictly Traditional,with the usual corporate events and festivals all serve to make the Terry Lightfoot Band real hard workers!

Terry celebrates his jubilee as a bandleader at the Riverfront on Saturday, May 28 at 8pm. Tickets start at just £5 and are available from the box office on 01633 656757 or at www.newport.gov.uk/riverfront