One of the most inspirational British jazz musicians of modern times has been confirmed to headline the closing concert of this summer's Holt Festival.

On the evening of Saturday July 28 the music of Courtney Pine will ring out from the stage of The Theatre In The Woods, the atmospheric woodland amphitheatre set at Gresham's School.

Courtney Pine swept into the UK jazz scene in 1986 with spectacular live performances and a debut album that was the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40.

Since then he has achieved considerable international acclaim, becoming one of the few British musicians to crack the American jazz charts. He is an inspirational figure to many young, up-and-coming black British musicians in all areas of music. He was awarded an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2009.

From the outset he has strived to take jazz music to a wider audience. His music often integrates modern styles like drum and bass and UK garage with contemporary jazz. Although primarily known as a saxophonist, Pine is a multi-instrumentalist also playing flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and keyboards

Details of his musicians for the concert are still to be announced but his band always includes a multi-cultural blend of the cream of those working in jazz and related music.

Support acts are two of the UK's most exciting jazz-influenced singer-songwriters; Ayanna, the first non-American to win the legendary Amateur Night at Harlem's Apollo Theatre and Gwyneth Herbert, who redefines expectations with one foot in the jazz world and one somewhere in the future.

Holt festival director Delaval Astley said: 'We're thrilled to be welcoming a star of Courtney Pine's calibre to Holt - an artist we might only have dreamt of hosting when we started four years ago.'

The full programme for the festival will be announced soon. It runs from July 22–28, when the streets and venues buzz with international music, drama, visual art, dance, comedy, cinema, free street entertainment, kids shows and workshops.

? Tickets for the Courtney Pine concert, priced �29, are available from Bakers and Larners, Market Place, Holt, 01263 712244.