IT IS roughly a century since jazz began to make an impact on mainstream public entertainment. From the early New Orleans bands, the music developed in to big band swing, then on to bebop through the innovations of Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie.

Sadly, we are reaching a point where many of the great musicians from bebop onwards are showing their mortality. This week we mourn the death of one of the music's great trumpeters, Clark Terry.

Reaching an impressive 94, Terry was a respected performer and educator who shared the stage with the likes of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington.

Jazz music has a strong lineage of great trumpet players, although there are a great deal more saxophonists fronting bands in the region. York is fortunate to have two excellent trumpeters in Ian Chalk and James Lancaster and both can be heard at The Phoenix Inn, George Street in the next week.

Ian fronts the contemporary jazz outfit, the Firebird Quartet at 8pm on Sunday while James hosts the jam night on Wednesday at 8.30pm. The Kate Peters Quartet also play at the venue on Monday at 8.30pm. The popular vocalist will be accompanied by pianist Mike Conliffe, myself on bass and Matt Parkinson on drums.

Tessa Smith is another fine vocalist based in Leeds and tonight she will be joining the Andy Cholerton Trio at the Red Lion Hotel, Poppleton at 8.30pm.

Rachel Croft is a name that is new to this columnist but she will be joining pianist Karl Mullen at the Rook and Gaskill on Lawrence Street at 8pm on Sunday evening. Karl always chooses excellent musicians so I'm sure that the gig will be well worth a visit.

Karl will be performing in an all together different duo at the Victoria Vaults on Nunnery Lane on Tuesday at 8.30pm. Drummer Neil Scott makes up the other half of Encouraging the Loony, who put their spin on everything from Scott Joplin to Led Zeppelin.

On Saturday evening, you can choose from two concerts on the opposite sides of the jazz spectrum. The Spirit of New Orleans pay a visit to Boston Spa Jazz Club at 8pm. Playing classic compositions from the early years of jazz, you can expect to hear the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and the like.

John Taylor is a name which will be familiar to many readers as he has released more than 80 albums. A truly world-class pianist, Taylor will be performing a solo concert at the National Centre For Early Music at 7.30pm.

Although deeply rooted in western harmony and rhythm, Taylor's compositions would be categorised as contemporary jazz in a similar style to his long time collaborator, Kenny Wheeler. The NCEM will be an excellent setting to hear one of British jazz music's greatest improvisers and composers.