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!

The Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, continues to present a wide range of live music and tonight's band scored a successful appearance in a recent theatrical presentation at the York Mansion House. The Leeds-based After Hours Rauchester Band plays a range of lively music, including Trad, Dixieland and Swing (01904 654307). Traditional jazz at Jazz in the Spa on Saturday night is with the Savannah Jazz Band (01937 844898).

The long-running Sunday lunchtime jazz at Kennedy's Café Bar, Little Stonegate, is with York's busiest bass player John Marley, drummer Paul Smith and guests (01904 620222). The Blueflies must be heard to be believed, so hurry to catch a rare appearance at the Fulford Arms, Fulford Road on Sunday from 4pm to 6.15pm. Vocalist Gary Grace brings his Swing package to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Sunday evening with the music of Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble and more at 7.30pm (01904 623568). Gary has performed around Europe, on board cruise liners and latterly on Sky TV's Cruising with the Stars.

The Phoenix Inn, George Street, presents consistently excellent live jazz and on Sunday night the Central Scrutinizers will play the music of Mingus, Monk and Wayne Shorter at 8pm. The fabulous Wednesday night jam session continues at the Phoenix on Wednesday night at 8.30pm (01904 656401). Scarborough Jazz runs every Wednesday night at the Cask Inn, Cambridge Terrace, and next week's guests will be the Nigel Price Trio, featuring the scintillating Price on guitar and masterful Hammond organist Ross Stanley (01723 500570).

REVIEW

Partisans, Swamp (Whirlwind Records) ****

To those raised on American songbook jazz, bands playing originals can be challenging and Partisans are certainly challenging, but in the best possible way.

Imagine a jazz equivalent of The Who, all-out, breakneck tempos and excitement on the opener, Flip The Sneck, through to the funky relaxation of Low Glow and the measured scene-setting of Thin Man. Drummer Gene Calderazzo is the nearest a jazz drummer could get to the explosive Keith Moon, but he outshines Moon every time at fast tempos, yet as an open-eared, listening drummer has thoughtful contributions too. Could he be the most expressively creative jazz drummer in UK jazz since Brian Spring?

The title track has electronics effects on guitar and saxophone as they embark upon a melodic journey, Calderazzo's drums and Thad Kelly's bass as playful anchors on the voyage, before they up the ante into a furious up-tempo.

The intriguing post-bop of Veto and Mickey feature tasty unison guitar/saxophone before they embark on stirring individual outings, particularly death-defying on the latter. No one falls over at the tricky turns.

This will be an incredibly exciting band to hear live- rocking, melodic and lyrical by turns - and you have your chance at the Mechanics Hall, Marsden Jazz Festival on Saturday at 4pm (marsdenjazzfestival.com or 0845 519 4415)

York favourite Paul Baxter and eyeshuttight will be at the Railway Inn, Marsden, on Sunday at 4pm.

Alongside these two superlative bands, it is something of an insult to note that headline band is Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, an off-shoot of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Great fun but it will never replace music.