FEBRUARY in Ilminster just got a little bit funkier, with the news that the Dave Betts Quartet will be playing Ilminster Arts Centre on Friday 24.

The Dave Betts Quartet is a Bristol-based outfit led by drummer/percussionist Dave Betts, whose compositions span the worlds of Jazz, Latin and Funk.

The band’s super talented line-up also features Kevin Figes on alto saxophone, Anders Olinder on piano and Clive Radford on guitar.

These guys play modern jazz with a Latin flavour and a distinctly contemporary feel.

One of Britain’s leading percussion artists, Dave formed the Dave Betts quintet in 2000 and just two years later played a residency at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London, attracting considerable attention from jazz critics.

Jazz Wise magazine describes the band’s resulting live album as “Compelling, spirited and original”, while Venue magazine praised their brand of “sparkling, Latin-rich modern Jazz”.

In the words of another legendary London music venue, the 606 Club, they are quite simply “utterly groovilicious”.

Dave has worked with a wide variety of musicians from Peter Gabriel to jazz pianist Jason Rebello and with acclaimed composers such as David Fanshawe (African Sanctus).

His unique playing style enables him to play several percussion instruments at once, and his live performances are full of energy, infectious grooves and multiple layers of Latin rhythm.

The concert takes place on Friday, February 24, starting at 8pm.

Tickets cost £14 and you can also book a pre-show supper for 7pm for £14.

To book, call the box office on 01460 54973.