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Now in its ninth year, the festival is promising eight days of innovative music with a range of contemporary jazz sounds.

What did you think of mjf 2004? Click here to find out

So what is mjf?
mjf 2004 is an eight day programme of indoor and outdoor, daytime and evening events - many of them free. The idea is to appeal to both to jazz fans and those who want to try it out, but haven't known where to look. There are five premi猫res of new works as well as several bands brought together especially for performances this year. Thousands of people turned out last year to appreciate jazz in city centre Manchester.

OK - sounds good. Who's playing?
Top billing goes to Wynton Marsalis who brings his Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra over from New York, in association with The Bridgewater Hall. (He's big - very big - like the Magic Johnson of jazz.)

Supertramp's very own sax player John Helliwell launches the festival with his new group Cr猫me Anglaise; Lamb's bassist Jon Thorne (he's from Stockport) joins forces with two members from Cinematic Orchestra to create a new multi-media piece for his band Oedipus Complex.

Lamb's bassist Jon Thorne

Bands visiting Manchester for the first time include: the ever-inventive saxophonist Julian Arg眉elles, leading his new trio which blends their Caledonian and South American backgrounds; and German born pianist/composer Hans Koller, who closes the festival with his 14-piece Big Band. - "..the most expansive, expressive and exciting new jazz orchestral sound to have appeared in this country [for twenty years]." - The Guardian.

Hmmm - sounds interesting. Where can I see it?
It all kicks off on July 24th with the open-air jazz stage in St. Ann's Square, which will also host daily lunchtime and commuter-time concerts throughout the week, alongside Manchester Markets' summer craft fair.

The striking, spacious Bridgewater Hall will once again open its doors for free daytime performances in the foyer.

A well-known coffee chain is sponsoring the event this year.. and three bite-size gigs will take place in Starbucks' St. Ann's Square store.

Ticketed evening performances will be held in the intimate surroundings of the Green Room, a venue which almost transports the audience on stage with the band.

For jazz insomniacs, there will be jam sessions and gigs at Matt and Phred's Jazz Club running into the early hours.

The vast majority of performances are free - so get yourself out into the city for eight days packed with great live music.

The 9th Manchester Jazz Festival runs from 24th - 31st July.