THE stereotype of a live jazz venue has long been that of a smokey room in the back of a pub. But in my experience (even before the smoking ban) this isn’t the case. Arts venues, restaurants and independent pubs seem to be most open to jazz. This is evident in York, where there is jazz in three restaurants this evening alone.

At the Pavilion Hotel in Fulford Road, the captivating vocals of Kate Peters will be accompanied by one of the finest pianists the city has produced in recent years, Martin Longhawn.

On the opposite side of the city walls, the Churchill Hotel hosts another excellent pianist. Karl Mullen will be joined by Paul Baxter on bass and veteran York drummer, Trevor King. Music starts at 7pm at both venues. Later in the evening, the Red Lion Hotel welcomes one of its resident bands, the Andy Cholerton Trio, who will be backing vocalist and trombonist Eugene Farrar from 8.30pm.

Kate Peters will be making two more appearances in the city this week, starting at Kennedy’s Bar, Little Stonegate on Sunday from 1pm. She will continue her popular residency at The Phoenix Inn, George Street, on Monday at 8.30pm. This cosy pub hosts regular jazz events including the weekly jam session on Wednesday evening and different bands on Sunday from 8pm. This week is the turn of the Firebird Quartet.

On Tuesday at The Victoria Vaults on Nunnery Lane, Karl Mullen can be found playing an eclectic mix of material with drummer Neil Scott in their appropriately titled duo Encouraging The Loony. Music starts around 8.30pm and this gig comes highly recommended for music fans with open ears and an open mind.

Review

Fumi Okiji’s Old Time Jazz Band, Old Fashioned (Jes Grew Records)

A culmination of two years’ work, this debut album takes on the blues, New Orleans, black vaudeville and standards from the long and varied jazz tradition.

Fumi’s clear, clean and compelling vocal style is sympathetically partnered by two younger stars (Idris Rahman and Ben Davis) and two seasoned players from Britain’s top-drawer (Stuart Hall and Roy Dodds).

Three Ellington tunes are given refreshingly new treatments and Rahman’s woody clarinet would have fitted the Duke’s band a treat, particularly on Mount Harissa (Far East Suite). Hall’s unique guitar approach ranges from Django to Ry Cooder on He’s Funny That Way and his quirky and humorous intro to You Do Something To Me is a tour de force. Drummer Roy Dodds, a veteran of Working Week, Fairground Attraction and Jacqui Dankworth’s band, also produces and you can feel the quality.

A great band for the uninitiated, while confirmed jazz fans will roll around around with joy.

Ron Burnett