THE isle's scorching summer of jazz has begun to sizzle.

Christine Tobin launched Margate Jazz Festival, Jazz In July, last Saturday and tonightthe Sarah Jane Morris Big Band is in concert at the Winter Gardens.

Organiser David Mossman, 68, founder of the Vortex Jazz Club in London and owner of Margate's Harbour Cafe Bar, has opened up his address book of the jazz world's great and good and used his influence to entice them to Margate.

He said: "This is going to be a festival of voice.

"Nearly everyone who is anyone in the world of British jazz will be there. We couldn't get Jamie Cullum, but he was here earlier in the year."

Tomorrow sees David welcome Estelle Kokot to the Harbour Cafe. On Sunday there's a free concert at the Old Town Piazza, on The Parade featuring The Carol Grimes Big Band, The Gypsy Folk Band, Gill Manley, Sarah Moule and Simon Wallace, Ian Shaw, Trudi Kerr and Georgio Mancio.

"What's going to be great is that all these guys know each other.

"Apart from amazing music there's going to be a fantastic party atmosphere.

"Margate is becoming THE centre for jazz in this part of Kent."

People in Ramsgate might argue and contest that crown. The Seaside Shuffle trad jazz festival begins tonight with Jazzing It Up music and jazz art exhibition at the Belgian Cafe in Harbour Parade and New Orleans style brolly waving to Vocalion at the St James club in Broad Street.

The Wantsum Jazz festival follows in September.

See www.margatejazzscene. co.uk for full details of Margate Jazz Festival.

See next week's Isle of Thanet Gazette for more information on Ramsgate's Seaside Shuffle.