Ron Burnett

THE renowned York drummer Dave Cook is a keen long-distance cyclist, jumping on a plane and biking across Mallorca as readily as he packs his drums to play for gigs around the county.

AFTER 20 years of scribbling, it is time to hand over my small, but luxuriously appointed, cosy Jazz Notes den. Who better to take over than hot young bass player and compiler of the definitive listings website, jazzinyork.co.uk, John Marley?

THURSDAY jazz with that tuneful twosome, Bejazzled and the Mardi Gras Band, is on the move again after a trial period at the Red Lion, Poppleton. The bands, which have worked in tandem over the last 20 years, will be seeking out a new venue; no reasonable offer refused!

JOHN MARLEY and Kate Peters organised a big Charity Jazz Jam at the Phoenix Inn on Monday night and their efforts were rewarded by a packed turnout and many musicians turning up not only to play, but to pay to play.

THE Thursday jazz session, late of 20 years at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, continues tonight with Bejazzled at the Red Lion, Poppleton.

UK jazz musicians, fans and promoters were devastated to hear that the Arts Council of England (ACE) will pull the plug on Jazz Services, the main body financing tours of national and international musicians.

LAST week’s feature on Abdullah Ibrahim and the previous week on Hugh Masekela serve as curtain-raisers to focus on another, even greater South African hero.

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM will celebrate his 80th birthday in Leeds, to perform a solo concert at the Howard Assembly Rooms.

ARTS Council England (ACE) recently announced funding plans for 2015-2018 and has not granted any funding for Jazz Services, which previously received £340,000 per annum.

EVERY year the University of York confers honorary degrees on people who have made a significant contribution to society. Jazz fans were thrilled to see the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate to South African musician Hugh Masekela on July 17.