JAZZ musician Courtney Pine is to appear at a music festival in the region.

Pine, the leading light of UK jazz, is bringing his band to the eighth Whitby Musicport Festival, from October 19 to 21, and will perform the event's finale.

Pine is best known for his saxophone playing, but he also plays the flute, clarinet and keyboards.

His recent music has attempted to integrate modern British drum and bass and garage music with contemporary jazz styles, and he includes many contemporary musicians in his performances.

Pine presents Jazz Crusade on BBC Radio 2 and was awarded an OBE for services to jazz in 2000. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Westminster and has made a guest appearance in Doctor Who.

Many other acts from all over the world have also been confirmed including Algerian star Rachid Taha, who appeared at Glastonbury as part of Damon Albarn's Africa Express.

Varttinna, an 11-piece band from Finland, fresh from providing much of the musical score for the £25m stage production of Lord of the Rings, will perform the traditional music of the Karelia region.