A new music festival continues in Marlow this week with a series of concerts and workshops celebrating the best in sax, jazz, classical and big band music.

The Marlow Festival of Wind and Brass Music is a new venture organised entirely by residents eager to see the town have its own festival of performance.

It mixes amateur and professional musicians, showcasing talent from the area and giving keen amateur players the chance to join in the musical fun.

It is being run by Christ Church Music in Marlow, with the help of All Saints' Church and Marlow Jazz Club and runs from May 9 to 23.

And the programme kicked off on Saturday night with professional saxophonist Alastair Penman reciting classical pieces at the Marlow church on Friday and the Chiltern Brass Quintet playing on Saturday.

Founder Martin Ashford said "We've previously run seven or eight concerts each year in the lovely setting of Christ Church URC, but this is a major step up for us and we really hope that audiences will get behind the festival.

“We are also raising funds to support Christian Aid, so not only will there be some terrific music but also the satisfaction of helping a really good cause".

The musical fortnight includes the following forthcoming events:

• "The Best Bands in the Land" : a spectacular gala featuring no fewer than four local concert, brass and big bands (May 16th), in the presence of the Mayor of Marlow;

• A jazz double-bill with Derek Nash (saxes) and Martin Shaw (trumpet), accompanied by the Frank Toms trio (May 19th);

• Workshops for classical musicians (May 17th) and would-be jazz improvisers (May 23rd).

Full details can be found at www.musicinmarlow.org.uk/festival.