JACQUI DANKWORTH, one of the most highly-regarded vocalists in the UK, is making her debut performance at Pocklington Arts Centre on Thursday, May 22.

Her concert appearances and her stylistically diverse recordings showcase her virtuosi and effortless mastery of a wide spectrum of genres. Known primarily as a jazz singer, Jacqui also draws on folk, soul and blues influences, as well as her acute sensibility as a songwriter and lyricist. Her voice has been described as “multi-faceted” and “incomparable” by The Times newspaper.

Jacqui is also an accomplished actor, having performed leading parts with the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre and London’s West End musicals, such as in Steven Sondheim’s Into The Woods at the Phoenix Theatre, playing Cinderella, and in Sophisticated Ladies, a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington. It was her original intention to make acting her main vocation, but the singing bug had hit by the mid-90s and Jacqui focused on her singing and recording career.

She has collaborated and worked with many diverse musicians, including The Brodsky Quartet and Courtney Pine, Marvin Hamlisch, Paloma Faith, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Gretchen Parlato, Clare Teale, Georgie Fame, David Gordon, Charlie Wood, Anthony Kerr, Liane Carroll, Sara Colman, Tim Garland, Chris Allard, Malcolm Edmonstone, Chris Garrick, The BBC Big Band, RTE, LSO and RPO Orchestras and most recently the legendary Chick Corea.

Tickets are priced £17.50 and available from the box office on 01759 301547 or visit pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk