HE composed the theme tune to Doc Martin and is one of the country's most prolific score writers for film and television.

English composer Colin Towns not only writes for television drama and feature film but also for animation, documentary, adverts, idents and theatre. He also writes and arranges for numerous big bands across Europe, subsequently recording, touring and releasing his work.

Now Colin - the composer and keyboardist noted for playing in bands formed by ex-Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, will play Southampton this week.

Heading up the Colin Towns Mask Orchestra he is joined by some of the finest jazz musicians for a concert atTurner Sims on Friday October 16 at 8pm.

The evening will feature original music from Towns’ extensive work in theatre and drama. The new Colin Towns Mask Orchestra will play original works from classic plays such as One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Equus and Macbeth as well as contemporary works such as Copenhagen and Terry Johnson’s Hysteria.

Towns' nominations include: BAFTA Best TV Music Award for the Crow Road; Ivor Novello Award for three of his TV scores (Goodbye Mr Chips, Clarissa and Blackheath Poisonings); the Royal TV Society Craft & Design Award for the Sculptress and the Canadian Gemini Award for best score for the animation Fungus the Bogeyman.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the leading lights of the jazz industry combine to play tracks from their stunning new album.

Under the baton on Colin will be: Julian Siegel, Peter King, Simon Allen, Alan Skidmore and Nigel Hitchcock on saxophones;

George Hogg, Graham Russell, Henry Lowther and Rory Simmons on trumpets; Barnaby Dickinson, Tom White, Harry Brown and Roger Williams on trombones; Stephan Maass on percussion; Andrew McCormack on piano; Chris Montague on guitar; Arnd Geise on bass, and Ralph Salmins on drums.

For full details of Autumn 2015 at Turner Sims, go to turnersims.co.uk