AN evening of the very best in local jazz is promised at Burley Social Club on Saturday, October 5 in order to help raise funds for the construction of a suspension footbridge over the River Wharfe in Burley in Wharfedale.

The concert features three jazz bands all based in Lower Wharfedale.

The Two Rivers Jazz band is an eight piece band with a female vocalist who play well known jazz standards with a few surprises thrown in. They are part of the Two Rivers Band Association and performed during the recent Ilkley Jazz Festival.

The Band Upstairs are from Burley-in-Wharfedale and have been playing together for several years. They rehearse at Guiseley Factory Workers Club, although none of the group are factory workers. They will be bringing an eclectic selection of vocals and instrumentals to the concert with tunes ranging from Billie Holliday to Bob Dylan and The Cure. They’ll also throw in a bit of trad and some jazz standards for good measure.

Chevin Jazz are a seven piece band that play arrangements of jazz classics and blues. They rehearse in Otley and also played at the Ilkley Jazz Festival where they received excellent reviews.

David Asher, trustee and Secretary of the Burley Bridge Association said: “This is the last of six musical events held over the past year to raise funds for the construction of the bridge.

“Having planned a rock concert, two folk concerts and two choral evenings, one of our members said that we should have a jazz concert so we could finish off with a flourish – and that’s what we will undoubtedly have on the night.

“We couldn’t hope for a better line up, with three local bands featuring the very best in local musicians and singers giving their full support to the bridge project.

“It should be an amazing evening in a great Burley venue. After a summer when the river has been impossible to cross safely on so many occasions, this will also be a great opportunity for people to show their support for a bridge.”

Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Coffee Station in Burley, and Just Books in Ilkley and Otley.

They can also be purchased on line at ticketsource.co.uk/burley-bridge-association.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Details of the campaign for a safe crossing of the River Wharfe in Burley in Wharfedale and forthcoming BBA events can be found at www.burleybridge.com, or contact the group via Facebook @burleybridgeassoc or Twitter @burleybridge.