NEWS of two high-level acts being confirmed for the Scarborough Jazz Festival (September 27-29) comes from festival director Mike Gordon.

Courtney Pine is the first highlight to be announced and he was a great hit at the 2008 festival, when he had most of the audience up and dancing. Courtney’s 15th album, House Of Legends, has been widely acclaimed. The second star name is American bass player Kyle Eastwood. More than just a famous name, it is 15 years since Kyle arrived on the jazz scene and in addition to six solo albums, he has contributed music to eight of his father’s films.

Early-bird tickets for the festival are now available, with a special bargain if you book for Jools Holland (May 15) before the end of March. Phone 01723 357869 or visit scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk

Live jazz in York tonight is with Bejazzled at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (01904 540911), with Tim New on saxophone and flute, Don Lodge and Mike Riley (guitars) and Ed Jackson (bass). Don is this week’s guest CD reviewer at the bottom of this column.

Pianist Karl Mullen is one of the most energetic of York’s musicians and he begins his weekend tomorrow night with hilarious duo Encouraging The Loony at the Fulford Arms, Fulford Road. On Sunday night Karl and vocalist Jen Lowe will make an early start (6.00pm) at the Waggon and Horses, Lawrence Street.

Sunday is a busy day for bass player John Marley, who has a trio gig at Kennedy’s Café Bar from 1pm (01904 620222) and he is with the Alec Robinson Quartet at the Phoenix, George Street at 8.30pm (01904 656401). John also finds time to run an invaluable new website, jazzinyork.com

Outside of York, Wakefield Jazz presents Jonathan Gee’s New York Trio tonight (01977 680542). Drummer Gene Calderazzo is an ex-pat New Yorker now well established in the UK, while bass player Joseph Lepore is a regular member of Greg Osby’s bands.

Tomorrow night Jazz in the Spa has the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra from Merseyside, an eight-piece playing classic jazz from the 1920s and 1930s (01937 842636).

Review

Trichotomy, Fact Finding Mission (naimCD186)

THE Australian piano trio has been performing under various epithets for 14 years and this latest album has something for everyone. Core members Sean Foran (piano), John Parker (drums) and Pat Marchisella (acoustic bass) are joined on four tracks by guitarist James Muller, percussionist Tunji Beier and reeds player Linsey Pollak. So what have we got? Lots of musicianship, original scores, variation of mood and style – we had all that before, but this album shows these virtuosi can relax as well. When two or three gifted young jazz players are gathered together there is always the temptation to produce an album of indigestible melodic soup designed to impress rather than entertain.

Not so here: this is a real trio at work, not just bass and drums accompanying a piano. This sort of performance does not work as background music; like some modern art, it requires the consumer to do a bit of creative work as well. But with this album the rewards are great.

Review by Don Lodge