BIRMINGHAM Jazz presents the Soweto Kinch Quartet at Midlands Arts Centre on Friday.

Described as 'probably the most exciting young saxophone star to come onto the UK jazz scene since Courtney Pine,' Soweto Kinch has just released his debut album Conversations with the Unseen and appears as part of his first national tour.

The Birmingham-born musician plays alto-saxophone and is accompanied by Femi Temowo on guitar, Michael Olatuja on bass and Troy Miller on drums.

He began his involvement in music and particularly jazz at an early age when he met Wynton Marsalis.

This relationship has continued and in January Wynton invited Soweto to sit in with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at their Symphony Hall concert.

As well as traditional jazz, Soweto plays other styles of contemporary music.

Tickets for the gig, which starts at 8pm, cost £9 (£6 concessions) on 0121 440 3838.