PLAYING music is what Leroy Jones was born to do.

The jazz trumpeter from New Orleans was just 12 years old when he was tasked with leading his church's brass band – but with music loving parents and mentors like banjo-guitarist Danny Barker, Leroy was perfectly poised to take the jazz world by storm.

A regular at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and a member of the New Orleans Jazz Hall of Fame, Leroy is a featured performer in the Harry Connick Orchestra, where his playing and singing have made him a crowd favourite.

In 2005 when the devastating hurricane hit New Orleans, Leroy wrote a song called Katrina while he was evacuated in Dallas.

He has performed on every continent and in every major US city, at prestigious theatres, festivals and jazz clubs. He is also a regular at the world famous New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, as well as the French Quarter.

But two decades since his last visit, the 57 year old is bringing his self-named quintet, along with British guests including singer Ian Shaw and violinist Lizzie Ball, back to Manchester.

Leroy said: "I would have been a musician ultimately, but no doubt being in New Orleans helped immensely. Music was played everywhere — in the house, the church, within the community – even on the front lawn of our neighbours' gardens."

His love of music was honed from a very early age due to his school teachers recognising his talent.

He said: "I started playing instruments in school in 1968 when I was 10. From there my teachers discovered that I had an aptitude for music and encouraged my parents to invest in my endeavours.

"I began playing professionally when I was 12. Growing up in New Orleans I was surrounded by a variety of jazz musicians such as Danny Barker — he was a jazz guitarist and historian and a member of a local Baptist church. The priest asked him to organise a youth group to find a church brass band because there were not enough people playing. I just happened to be one of the first recruits."

In the mid-seventies Leroy went on to form his own group, the Leroy Jones Quintet, later touring with Connick Jr's big band and has been a prominent figure in the jazz scene ever since.

Eighteen years ago he married his wife Katja Toivola, a trombonist who he regularly plays alongside.

Leroy said: "We both play music so you could say there are a lot of brass instruments around our house.

"I have been to Manchester before but it not for more than 20 years when I was there as an opening act for Harry Connick Jr when we did a tour across England. I am very much looking forward to returning as I've not been to England for quite some time."

The Leroy Jones Quintet will play with Ian Shaw and Lizzie Ball at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on November 11.