Bermuda's biggest jazz festival gets underway tonight on Front Street, when the last `Harbour Nights' of the season plays host to Bermuda Jazzscape '97 in the form of a mini jazz street festival. Cuban-born Arturo Sandoval, one of the world's greatest jazz trumpeters, joins forces with the Island's own Vic Glazer and The Jazztets, and `Shine' Hayward's Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble, all of whom will entertain, free of charge, on Front Street.

Tomorrow, the second free `taster' moves to historic King's Square, St.

George's, where New York's Warren Vache m Quartet and Clark Eno and his Swing Orchestra will be the star attractions. They will be joined by Gita Blakeney, the talented young Bermudian singer who started out professionally with the Gregg Thompson Follies, has won two Best of Bermuda awards and was recently featured on BBC World Service radio.

On Friday, the Royal Naval Dockyard provides a dramatic backdrop for this year's main Jazzscape events and has apparently been named as the official `home' of the jazz festival, which was inaugurated last year. Despite inevitable teething troubles, and complaints by local musicians that they had been ignored, the event seems set to stay. This year, a line-up of some of Bermuda's best talent will be showcased. The Department of Tourism, desperate to attract more visitors to the Island, has forked out a reported $800,000 to ensure the success of the venture.

"Jazzscape now forms part of our annual Dockyard Festival and we believe there will be an enormous public response,'' says WEDCO development manager Ed Williams. "Our main stage, which is huge, measuring 120 feet by sixty feet, has been constructed in the water, with the Marine and Ports slipway being used as the auditorium area, with seating for approximately 2,000 people.'' Opening Friday's show will be the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble.

Directed by `Shine' Hayward, one of Bermuda's most gifted musicians, the band features young people ranging in age from 12 to 25 years, many of them Mr.

Hayward's pupils or referred to him from schools around the Island, as well as the Bermuda College and Bermuda Regiment.

Headliners will be two legends of the jazz world, the David Sanborn Group and Nancy Wilson. For over 25 years, the seductive sound of Sanborn's saxaphone has straddled the pop and jazz world -- and cultivated a following that seems to embrace every age group. Nancy Wilson, one of the greatest exponents of jazz and blues, has a world-wide following from countless hit recordings.

Saturday is an all-day affair, commencing at 11 a.m. and continuing into the night. Randy Lambert and Tempo open up the proceedings with music that swings from bebop to today's hits. The popular group, which also includes John Lee on bass and Sinclair Simmons on drums, has individually opened for such stars as Isaac Hayes, Herbie Mann, Third World and Curtis Mayfield.

X-Tacy, one of Bermuda's premier jazz groups and comprising Antonio Dill, Sheila Smith and Deletta Gillespie, makes its appearance around noon, followed by the internationally famous vocal quartet, the New York Voices at 1 p.m.

Bermudian pianist James Richardson who began his musical career at the age of 11 and went on to study at Boston's Berklee College of Music, will also be featured in the afternoon session, as will Vic Glazer and The Jazztets.

Glazer, who has worked extensively with Frankie Avalon, has now joined forces with Carl Schectman (trumpet) and Howie Rego on drums; together, they have played with such greats as Peter Frampton, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett.

The afternoon section closes with LeYoni Junos, the dynamic and versatile singer who recently scored a personal triumph in the Broadway in Bermuda concert at City Hall.

International stars at the evening performance are Chaka Khan, whose remarkable voice embraces the sounds of jazz and blues, pop, fusion and funk, Arturo Sandoval (on trumpet and flugelhorn) who, besides his fame as a jazz musician is also a renowned classical artist, and then the delectablre sounds of the New York Voices. Festival organisers warn that order of performances may change.

Sunday is given over to the annual Dockyard Festival. "There will be lots of wonderful music, with plenty of standing space around the main `auditorium', so that people can fling down a blanket or bring their own chairs, listen to the music, have a picnic and generally enjoy themselves,'' says Mr. Williams.

"There is no admission charge and this year, we have a `first': Steve Love's New York Roller Dance Company will be appearing, and I hear they are a wonderful group. The day starts off with some good Gospel singing and a variety of top acts to follow. The festival goes on through 11 p.m. and, of course, there will be plenty of outstanding art and crafts on view, as well as stalls offering all kinds of food, including the popular `ethnic' varieties.'' Mr. Williams says that WEDCO is encouraging people to use local transportation for the weekend bash. "Yes, there will be extra buses and ferries laid on.'' Bermuda Jazzscape '97 is presented by Travel & Leisure Magazine, and is sponsored by the Department of Tourism, the Bank of Bermuda, the Royal Naval Dockyard, American Airlines, official airline for the event, and by Elbow Beach Hotel, the offficial host hotel.

Tickets for Bermuda Jazzscape '97 are available at Opus Encore on Reid Street.

Reserved seating is $55, general admission is $45.

LOCAL STARS FOR JAZZSCAPE '97 -- Bermuda's well-known show band, X-Tacy will be appearing at this year's Jazzscape '97 at Dockyard. Pictured are (left to right) Deletta Gillespie, Sheila Smith and Antonio Dill.