The second Port Erin Jazz Festival took place at the weekend with performances at the Erin Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday evening and on Saturday afternoon at the Bay Hotel and Falcon’s Nest.

The festival, sponsored by Ravenscroft, opened with a foot-tapping, storming performance by local ensemble The Blue Train big band, which was a perfect way to get everyone in a festival mood.

The main event on Friday was the guitar legend Martin Taylor with singer Alison Burns, who gave what could only be described as a mesmerising performance to a packed house

Saturday afternoon saw local artists Lauren Gray and Mark Burrows followed by the evergreen Bus Pass Blues and local jazz ensemble Blue Vannin.

The latter two acts had guest appearances from saxophonist Beccy Rork.

Meanwhile, at the Falcon’s Nest Heinrich Manoeuvre and Loose Crew were on top form followed by the Leeds College of Music jazz trio.

Saturday evening saw Beccy Rork and the LCM trio and then an exceptional performance by saxophonist Alan Barnes and pianist Dave Newton who are massive supporters of jazz on the island.

The event was streamed live by Greenlight TV.

Organiser Jerry (The Prez) Carter told Island Life: ‘This was not Ronnie Scotts or Carnegie Hall, this was a windy little village Port Erin, hosting some of the finest jazz musicians in the world.

‘There are so many people to thank, the team at the arts centre - all the visiting artists simply love the venue and sound quality, Greenlight TV, Bushy’s, the Steam Packet, Fynoderee ,The Bay Hotel and Falcon’s Nest.

‘It is simply not viable to put together festivals with world class artists without sponsorship and we were very lucky to have Ravenscroft as our lead sponsor.’

He added: ‘The other factor that really resonated was just how good the local artists. You rather expect Martin Taylor and messrs Barnes and Newton to be extraordinary but the standard of local performance was a great advertisement for jazz in the island.’