YORK jazz fans will be impressed by a new publication edited by York student Anna Lacy, who plays saxophone in the university’s big band.

York Jazz Scene magazine has contributions from university musicians such as US trumpeter Matt Postle, faculty member Jonathan Eato and, for the advanced reader, a transcription by Zezo Olimpio of Keith Jarrett’s ballad playing on the Livingstone/Evans standard, Never Let Me Go. Hot stuff indeed. More details from Anna Lacy on 07939 463936 or via yorkjazzscene@googlemail.com

Anyone who bought the recent Best Of Jane Monheit CD will have been impressed by the bonus DVD filmed at New York’s Rainbow Room. The Stan Getz-like tenor saxophonist heavily featured is Joel Frahm and British pianist Mike Janisch brings him to Wakefield Jazz tonight, before a series of gigs at Ronnie Scott’s.

Alex Garnett joins the quintet on alto and tenor saxophones. On a previous UK tour the furious two tenor action was likened to the storming duets of Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. Nifty drummer David Lyttle has studied with heavyweight drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, so this is a star band. Details from 01977 680542.

The Dizzy Club will be tomorrow night’s band at Jazz In The Spa (01937 842544). From Sheffield, this is an acoustic swing group featuring two guitars, violin, bass and drums.

Sunday midday in York presents the usual dilemma: Rob Lavers at Kennedys Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222); or Karl Mullen at the Tanglewood Restaurant, Malton Road, Flaxton Moor (01904 468611).

The Mardi Gras Band is a seven-piece band alternating fortnightly on Thursdays with Bejazzled at the Old White Swan, Goodram-gate, York. On Sunday, a trio from the band, led by Greg Wadman (trumpet) is joined by one of the best banjo players around, Jim Wright, at the Helmsley Arts Centre from midday to 2pm (01439 771109).

This will be the sixth year for the quartet at Helmsley and it is usually a sell-out. The programme covers three or four decades of jazz history.

Everyone’s favourite saxophone player, Frank Brooker, will be the guest at Scarborough Jazz at the Cask on Wednesday.

Al Wood has twice won the BBC Big Band Best Soloist award and he is assistant head of performance studies at the Leeds College of Music. A multi-instrumentalist, he teaches saxophone and trombone and also runs the College Big Band. Catch him in solo glory as the special guest at the Yorkjazz jam session at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, on Wednesday (01904 679131).

Ted Serota’s Rebel Souls, Seize The Time (Naim Jazz) is a group with a warm open-minded approach to the music. The album pays tribute to the many musicians who have stood up against oppression and injustice. Serota has included tunes by Caetano Veloso, Charles Mingus, Miriam Makeba and Joe Strummer. Brazilian Veloso was jailed and exiled by the country’s military dictatorship in 1969. His 13 De Maio celebrates the day when slavery ended in Brazil and Serota gives it a calypso rhythm, with New Orleans-style communal improvisation, two saxes jousting over the infectious rhythm.

Miriam Makeba was also exiled from her native South Africa for 30 years and her Polo Mze is dedicated to Jomo Kenyatta.

Free Cell Block F, ‘Tis Nazi USA was a Charles Mingus protest against capital punishment, racism and prison conditions in the United States.

For all its serious political intent, this is one of the most joyful albums to emerge for some time. The quintet of two saxophones, guitar and bass is driven by Serota’s Tony Williams-inspired drumming, from high-energy African rhythms and swing, through ballads to dub reggae on Serota’s own Killa Dilla. The spirit of Mingus is never far away in this music of good humour, intelligence and soul.