HERALDED as one of the ruling jazz saxophonists of Britain, the aptly-named Peter King is coming to north Essex.

The musician has been a major influence on the UK jazz scene ever since he played at the opening of Ronnie Scott’s internationally-renowned jazz club in London in 1959.

Aged only 18 at the time, Peter began a career that has lasted for 50 years..

Over his long career, the alto saxophonist has worked with a huge range of artists.

He has accompanied artists such as Marlene Dietrich, Tony Bennett and James Brown as well as Bud Powell, Elvin Jones and the Ray Charles Orchestra.

Peter is not limited to the stage either, having appeared in the Talented Mr Ripley and played with the band, Everything But the Girl.

His reputation grew rapidly as a master of the bebop tradition in his early years and since then, he has explored other movements.

In an interview with All About Jazz last month he said: “I’ve been moving away from bebop for the past 20 to 25 years.

“I now feel more comfortable playing in a freer, and more modal, Coltrane-influenced way.”

He has also been dabbling in different disciplines and has written an opera, Zyklon.

The opera is a full length, two-act piece about the German-Jewish scientist Franz Haber who developed mustard gas during the Second World War.

To add to his eclectic list of achievements is his Bartok-inspired string quartet composition commissioned by the BBC.

Peter plays regularly at European jazz festivals and has performed for audiences in Paris, Berlin, Bilbao, Finland and Norway.

He was also the only non-American artist to perform at the Gem Theatre in Kansas City during a week-long jazz festival in 1999.

Peter is performing for Fleece Jazz Society at the Stoke-by-Nayland Club, in Keepers Lane, Leavenheath, on Friday.

The music starts at 8pm For information, call 01206 262836 or visit www.stokebynay landclub.co.uk