After the excellent May Jazz Weekend at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) Walmgate, the centre continues to bring the finest of international jazz to York.

Firstly, tonight the Julian Arguilles Octet plays at 7.30pm. Julian is one of the most significant jazz composers and performers of his generation and his Octet is Ensemble in Residence at the University of York. With Nikki Iles, Iain Dixon, Chris Batchelor, Mike Walker and Martin France in the band, this is an essential be-there.

Secondly, the Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble comes to Walmgate on Thursday, June 12, as part of the Late Music Festival. Born from the energies of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, Gilad adds enticing elements of world music and has become first call for festivals around the world. Phone 01904 658338 for more details.

The excitement of the May Jazz Weekend at the NCEM continues to reverberate through new albums from the Quartets of Rob Lavers and Tony Kofi.

The Rob Lavers Quartet plays Sunday afternoons and the Tuesday Jazz Club at Kennedys, Little Stonegate, York (from 1pm to 4pm), and his album Small Creature (33 Records) is selling steadily. However, there is nothing like hearing Rob's Quartet live, something you cannot do so readily with Tony Kofi's group.

Kofi's CD The Silent Truth (Specific Records), was released in April 2008.

Like Rob's album, the music is composed by the band and like Rob's, it is rivetting.

A superb pair of albums, essential listening.

The hot young trumpeter Colin Steele brings his Quintet to Wakefield Jazz tonight (01977 680542), with Scotland's finest Phil Bancroft (saxophone) and Dave Milligan (piano), who are all achieving international acclaim. Recommended.

Jazz In The Spa on Saturday night has traditional jazz with Mart Rogers Manchester Jazz. The venue is the Trustees hall, in High Street, Boston Spa (01937 842544).

After their sell-out concert at the above-mentioned NCEM, guitar duo John Williams and John Etheridge star at the Swaledale Festival tomorrow night. The concert starts at 8pm at St Andrew's Church, in Grinton.

Other Swaledale events include Rob & Zoe, From Blues to Broadway (June 2, Castle Bolton) and Alan Plater's monologues (June4, Richmond; June 5, Muker). For details on the above, phone 01748 880019.

The new Sunday afternoon session at the Old White Swan, in Goodramgate, features a variety of different bands each week. Continue your seamless jazz Sunday after the Rob Lavers Quartet at Kennedys. The short walk to Goodramgate will be rewarded by barbecued food and this Sunday's group, led by ace pianist Karl Mullen. The Old White Swan Sunday sessions run from 5pm to 8pm (01904 540911).

The runaway success of the First Tuesday Jazz Suppers at the Dean Court Hotel is all down to the charisma of Andy Hillier and his Jazz Trio. To be fair, the Dean Court's Café-Bistro has a very cool, international sophistication not often found in York. As a result, the First Tuesday Jazz Suppers are generally booked up months ahead and the Hotel has expanded the event to include additional tables, albeit with reduced view, but at a reduced price. Phone 01904 625082 for more details.

The spreading fame of the Wednesday night jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, means that late-comers must often be content with standing on the crooked staircase, drink in hand, listening as best they can to the great music. Now vacated by the film crew on location this week for the new Robinson Crusoe film (stars Sean Bean, Sam Neill), early arrival is recommended. Phone 01904 686910 for jam session details and where Sean and Sam parked their bums.

American pianist Jason Moran is the celebrated man of the moment, his recent European tour with an eight-piece band coming closest to us at the Sage, Gateshead (May 21). Moran is the main protagonist on label-mate Cassandra Wilson's new album, Loverly (Blue Note).

After exploring the outer reaches of jazz with her last release, Cassandra Wilson returns to the jazz standards in the classic, relaxed, jam session tradition, driven by drummer Herlin Riley and Nigerian percussionist Lekan Babalola. The two rhythm men are at the heart of the album, creating a range of backings from the understated to relaxed poly-rhythms, which enliven such classics as Caravan, Gone With The Wind and the title track, Wouldn't It Be Loverly.

A thoroughly modern album, yet Loverly has a direct link back to the 1940s and 1950s. Moran opens Lover Come Back To Me at a fast lick in Teddy Wilson mode, Cassandra's husky cappucino voice joined for this one track by the hot muted trumpet of Nicholas Payton. The band is completed by Lonnie Plaxico (bass) and Marvin Sewell (guitar) and she is joined fleetingly by Reginald Beal for a vocal/bass duet on The Very Thought Of You.

Recorded at a rented house in Cassandra's home town of Jackson, Mississippi, the album is an object lesson in warm relaxation, the tension coming from the tight-rope outings of the musicians' improvisations.