THE Chapter House Choir will welcome a trio of the jazz world’s most celebrated contemporary musicians, Martin France, John Turville and Alexander L’Estrange, to York Minster on May 16.

They will be joined too by soprano Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, a specialist in the performance of contemporary works, for a collaboration that will bring together sacred choral lines, liturgical harmonies and energetic jazz grooves.

In a 7.30pm programme of songs and spirituals inspired by Pentecost, the centrepiece will be Mass In Blue by British composer Will Todd, a 2003 upbeat jazz setting of the Latin mass for choir, jazz trio and soprano soloist.

Drummer Martin France’s 35-year career has taken in performing with artists as diverse as the BBC Concert Orchestra and Elvis Costello and he is now professor of jazz drums/percussions at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Classical and jazz pianist John Turville performs regularly at major British venues such as Ronnie Scott’s in London and Sage in Gateshead.

Alexander L’Estrange, a choral composer, songwriter and jazz double bass player, is renewing acquaintances with the York choir, who commissioned his choral work on the theme of cycling for Le Grand Depart for last year’s Tour de France. Song Cycle: Vive la Velorution! was premiered with L’Estrange’s Call Me Al jazz quintet and 400 singers from choirs across Yorkshire in York Minster last July.

Soprano Joanna Forbes L’Estrange is married to Alexander. Her career has taken her all over the world, as well as performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the Symphonic Rock concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and the London Sinfonietta at Glastonbury Festival. From 1998 to 2004, she was musical director of The Swingle Singers.

“We’re delighted to be performing another fabulous concert with the Chapter House Choir in the splendid setting of York Minster,” says Alexander L’Estrange. “Mass In Blue is a really exciting and uplifting musical work and one of our personal favourites. The combination of the jazz trio, choir and soloist is really special, so audiences are in for a musical treat. ”

Tickets cost £15, concessions £13.50, under 19s £5, from the Minster box office, on 01904 557208 or at yorkminster.org, as well as on the door.