Art Themen was involved in the traditional jazz scene in Manchester in the late 1950s. A member of the award-winning Cambridge University jazz band from 1958 to 1961, he became involved in the early London blues scene, playing alongside Alexis Korner, Jack Bruce, Mick Jagger and Chuck Berry. He fronted the Stan Tracey Quartet for 20 years from 1976. Key influences are Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon. Themen has toured worldwide and played and recorded with many US and British luminaries. A busy and sought-after musician who nowadays is most often seen on stage with many of the best of Britain's top jazz players such as Alan Barnes, John Donaldson, John Critchinson, Dave Newton, Georgie Fame, Don Weller and Mornington Lockett, among many others. Themen is a player who is known for his originality and individual style.

A consummate performer and one of the UK's top jazz saxophonists, he plays in large and small venues throughout the UK and worldwide and is a regular feature on many top jazz festivals. At this year's Hay Winter Weekend he will be playing a full repertoire of jazz standards featuring John Donaldson on piano, Steve Brown on drums and bass-player Paul Morgan.