Back from New Orleans and in his native North-East, Brian Carrick formed The Heritage Hall Stompers, part of the British jazz scene ever since, while Kid Thomas Valentine, was still touring Europe into the 1980's.

Then in 1996 Brian realised his long held dream, when the Algiers Stompers, named in honour of the Thomas band was formed from invited players who knew and wanted to work in that tradition. Forming the Stompers also gave Brian an opening for his forceful Emanuel Paul styled tenor sax.

Then Brian, returning from a gig, was seriously injured in a car crash, and for 18 months his playing future was in doubt, but in 1998 the band celebrated his return, and since then the Stompers have gone from strength to strength.

Claiming to replicate Kid Thomas's music would be an impertinence - but the Stompers celebrate it by adopting its driving, melodic, stepping out for pleasure style, and with its wide ranging dancehall repertoire, hoping to warm the hearts and feet of those who caught the Thomas band in the old days and those who wish they had.

The session takes place at Azur otonight starting at 8.00pm. Tickets available on the door, £6 members and £8 guests.