THE ever-resourceful Wakefield Jazz books some of the most interesting bands around and tonight is no exception.

Carlos Lopez-Real is a hot saxophonist and a product of the Guildhall School of Music and he studied in New York with Dave Leibman. A regular with John Mayer’s Indo-Jazz Fusions and Roberto Pla’s Latin band, Carlos brings to Wakefield his quintet to play music from Mandorla, his latest CD album. Details from Wakefield Jazz (01977 680542 and carloslopez-real.co.uk The University of York Spring Festival of New Music moves into the National Centre For Early Music (NCEM) tomorrow afternoon for a double bill featuring two up-and-coming jazz pianists, both former students of jazz legend John Taylor.

At 2pm, the Phil Merriman Trio will perform and energetic set of originals and standards, while Tom Gibbs is joined by the Dublin-based Weide Trio for a collaboration of cutting-edge compositions and arrangements inspired by Sarah Vaughn, Bartok, Radiohead and Isa Wiss.

Jazz fans have also been known to enjoy Klezmer, the virtuoso, clarinet-led music of the Jewish and eastern European traditions. Sefiroth will play their Klezmer repertoire at 7.30pm.

Sefiroth are joined by drummer Simon Roth for a later session, 10pm at the Tang Hall WMC. Box office: 01904 432439.

Jazz In The Spa has a treat tomorrow night with trombonist Jim Fryer, saxophonist Karen Sharp and the Tom Kincaid Trio. Karen was tenor saxophonist in the late Humphrey Lyttelton Band and the venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa (01937 842544).

Rob Lavers worked for some years as a session musician and was active in most of the London jazz clubs. Now back in his home town, saxophonist Rob is one of the best things about Sunday afternoon in York and his Quartet will be at Kennedys Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, from 1pm to 4pm (01904 620222). Naturally enough, Rob’s fame has spread far beyond York and next Wednesday he will be the guest at Scarborough Jazz at the Cask (01723 379818).

Scarborough Jazz recently celebrated its 25th birthday and organisers Marian and Mike Gordon are now planning the 2009 Scarborough Jazz Festival in September. Already booked are Liane Carroll, John Etheridge, Andy Panayi’s 17-piece band and US reedsman Ken Peplowski with Alan Barnes and the Dave Newton Trio. More details on 01723 357869.

The Royal York Hotel has instituted afternoon jazz in the restaurant and on Sunday The Pennine Jazz Group will be in residence. Details from 01904 653681.

Folk Art is Joe Lovano’s 21st recording for Blue Note Records. After his last album, Symphonica, with large orchestra, Us Five is his new touring group, by contrast a piano, bass and two drummers group, playing a programme entirely composed by Lovano.

The opening Powerhouse is close to the traditional quartet sound, with Lovano on tenor saxophone.

The bluesy title track has a spirited dialogue between James Weidman’s piano and Lovano’s alto saxophone, from which he produces an expressive, vocalised tone.

Song For Judi opens with delicate solo piano, before Lovano returns on tenor saxophone for a slow and stately melody.

Lovano has a selection of unusual instruments, including a Hungarian taragato and on Dibango, a tribute to the African saxophonist, he introduces the aulochrome, a double soprano saxophone. This has two tubes with one keyboard down the centre. Each key is split in two and the tone holes on the left harmonise with those being played on the right to produce an intriguing sound reminiscent of Roland Kirk playing two instruments at once.

The two drummers, New Yorker Otis Brown III and Cuban Fransisco Mela, can swing like blazes, but are not always tied to a set tempo. They share imaginative interpretations on a variety of drums, bells and gongs. As a result, Us Five is a refreshing variation on the jazz quartet/quintet sound, a constant surprise and delight.