“I KNOW what Miley Cyrus looks like, but I don`t know what she sounds like,” said veteran photographer Mick Rock, complaining that present-day singers operate as visual products, rather than creative musicians.

Rock knows about image, as a new exhibition opens celebrating his best-known album covers. Among them are Lou Reed`s Transformer and QUEEN II, which became the inspiration of the iconic Bohemian Rhapsody video.

“Image is all (today), the songs just accompany the look.”

Does this cross over into jazz, folk or classical? Have a look at the marketing of Vanessa Mae, Katherine Jenkins or Nicola Benedetti, or Jacqui Dankworth, Tina May and Zoe Rahman. Some photos of folkie Kate Rusby see her posing in lacy items which could be underwear. However, male musos tend to be not so sexually attractive for image exploitation.

Your first chance to judge for yourself, at least on a local level, is tonight in York, when the fragrant Bejazzled, with Mike Riley, play at Middleton`s Hotel, Skeldergate, 8.30-11.00pm (01904 611570). As a comparison on the physical beauty stakes, Karl Mullen and Neil Scott appear as Encouraging The Loony at Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, at 8.30pm (01904 635307). Sunday jazz in York is with an instrumental trio at Kennedy`s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, with John Marley (bass) and Paul Smith (drums) and guests (01904 620222). The day is rounded off at 8pm with the Firebird Quartet, fronted by demon trumpeter Ian Chalk at the Phoenix Inn, George Street.

The magnetic Kate Peters brings her quartet to the Phoenix on Monday at 8pm and the spectacular Phoenix jam session is on Wednesday at 8pm (01904 656401).

Wakefield Jazz tomorrow night features the wonderful Lianne Carroll and her Trio at 8.30pm (01977 680542). Jazz in the Spa welcomes Trefor Williams and the Usual Suspects on Saturday at 8.30pm (01937 844898). Scarborough Jazz runs on Wednesday at the Cask Inn, Cambridge Terrace, with guest saxophonist Robin Porter (01723 500570.

REVIEW

Tommy Smith/Brian Kellock, Whispering Of The Stars (Spartacus Records) ****

HARD on the heels ofAmerican Adventure by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO), directed by Tommy Smith (Jazz Notes 20 Feb), here we have Mr Smith with fellow Scot and SNJO pianist Brian Kellock.

The masterfully played standards range through half a dozen Ellingtons, Hoagy’s Stardust, It Could Happen To You (Burke/Van Heusen) and tunes by Leslie Bricuse (Pure Imagination), Burt Bacharach (Alfie) and the beguiling Michel Legrand (You Must Believe In Spring, The Summer Knows) along the way. An impeccable choice.

The duet is one of the most exposed forms in music, but this is a scintillating partnership that goes back a long way. Smith explains the album`s title as meaning two things.

“The first is as a Nordic saying for the exhalation of air on a dark, cold winte’s evening; your breath transforms into shimmering crystals that float off into the night air like minute stars. The second is it describes the approach to this set of songs, which are played with a whispering quality.” Whispering Of The Stars is released on Monday.