TONIGHT, Wakefield Jazz will be shifting the furniture around to accommodate the sumptuous sounds of Big Band Byrne, the band which was such a hit at last September's Scarborough Jazz Festival.

The band is made up of musicians from across our region, including some from York, and Colin Byrne will present the premier of his new composition, The Depth of Her Shallows. Details of Wakefield Jazz from 01977 680542.

As well as composing and running his big band, Colin has also produced a play-along teaching ebook, Think Rock Drums. He offers a free sample chart, including playalong track, at www. bigbandbyrne. com/book3. htm In York tonight, the Jacobean Lodge, Plainville Lane, Wigginton, showcases jazz pianists. Phone 01904 762749 for more details.

Also in York tonight, Danny Gough and his band, Nu York State, will be strutting their funky stuff at the Basement bar at City Screen, providing the Ouse flood waters have been expelled. Phone 0870 758 3219 for an update.

Rod MacNamara is one of the wackiest drummers around and you can catch him in full swing with the Kid Boyd Jazz Band at Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa (01937 842544).

Martin "Kid" Boyd is a popular York musician who plays with many bands in the area and his own band covers a wide range of Dixieland, blues and boogie.

A look at the new programme from Howden Live reveals that one of Martin's ex-pupils, Mark Crooks, will appear at the Shire Hall, Market Place in March.

Mark was the featured soloist in a recent gala tribute to Artie Shaw, which was mounted at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, by another ex-Yorkie, James Langton, and his Solid Senders Orchestra.

More news on Mark Crooks nearer the date.

Pocklington Arts Centre opens its spring season with a concert by legendary Tradster Terry Lightfoot And His Jazzmen, on Sunday. The theme of the show will be the Special Magic of Louis Armstrong and special guest will be Terry's daughter, Melinda. The box office is on 01759 301547 and the concert starts at 8pm.

Hailed by Jazzwise magazine as "the most exciting British trombonist for decades", Dennis "Badbone" Rollins brings his quartet to Scarborough Jazz (01723 379818) on Tuesday. He has star backing with London-based pianist Benet McLean, Zoltan Dekany on acoustic bass and John Perry on drums.

Karl Mullen and Nina Zagorski and guests alternate every Tuesday at the Last Drop Inn, Colliergate, York (01904 621951).

Karl also masterminds the Thursday night acoustic quartet sessions at the Jacobean Lodge, recently moved from Sunday.

Leeds Jazz is alive and happening at the Wardrobe. Although activities in the downstairs club have ceased, and Leeds Jazz is promoting fewer events, the club is still very much on the jazz map.

Next Wednesday the national tour by Julian Siegel Trio comes to the Wardrobe at 8.30pm. Phone Dave Gadd on 0113 269 4077 for details.

Siegel is joined by the downtown New York rhythm section of Greg Cohen (double bass) and Joey Baron (drums) and there is more information at www.juliansiegel.com

Saxophonist Rob Lavers has been much missed on the York scene recently, but the good news is that he will be back at Kennedy's, Little Stonegate, on Sunday, January 28.

"It will be an acoustic jazz quartet with Adrian Moorhouse (piano), Mark Wooton (drums) and Nigel Slee (bass)", said Rob. The session begins at 1pm and look out for Rob's new CD soon.

I inadvertently caught the TV show The Two Of Us recently, with TV soap actors singing while the audience clapped in time, but on the on-beat (beats one and three).

Okay, it was a Dolly Parton song, but even red-necks know that swing only comes with clapping on the Off beat (beats two and four).

Or am I just being a stuffy old pedant? Answers on a postcard?