TWENTY TEN is beginning to look like the year when everyone realises how well jazz goes with food.

The Old White Swan, Goodramgate, was an early starter, having served food with live music several nights every week for years. Last night’s two-band session with Bejazzled and the Mardi Gras Band celebrated 16 years of jazz every Thursday, over which time the two bands have alternated.

Thanks to this longevity, regular visitors from around Europe have the pub on their itinerary for a bite to eat along with entertaining music. The bands have fans from as far away as Norway and Spain, often students at the York language schools. It is not unusual for these visitors to bring along photos of the band they have taken the year before. Next Thursday’s band will be Bejazzled, with Mike Riley (guitar).

The jazz and food success story remains the First Tuesday Jazz Dinner series at the Dean Court Hotel, Duncombe Place, York. Alongside fine cuisine the big draw is the Andy Hillier Jazz Trio, ensuring sessions are booked months ahead. The next two are on February 2 and March 2 (01904 625082).

New for Twenty Ten are the Churchill Hotel, Bootham and the Coach House, Marygate.

The Churchill is promoting a monthly three-course dinner with Karl Mullen’s Jazz Band and the first will be on Thursday, January 21. Details from 01904 644456.

Jazz Carveries at the Coach House, Marygate, will run every Sunday, with food served from 1pm to 9pm and music from five to 8pm (01904 652780).

Wakefield Jazz is nothing if not consistent. Their last gig of 2009 featured Alan Barnes, as tonight does their first of 2010. He brings with him the Brand X All Star Band, which is as good as it gets in British jazz and includes Andy Panayi (saxophones, flute), Steve Waterman (trumpet), Mark Nightingale (trombone), David Newton (piano) and more (01977 680542).

Jazz In The Spa is back tomorrow night with traditional jazz from Six In A Bar plus Rosie. The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa and since it is unlicensed you are invited to take along your own tipple (01937 842544).

The City Screen Basement Bar has another in a series of occasional jazz nights at 8pm on Monday. Two bands will feature, the Jiannis Pavilidis Trio and the Matt Roberts Quintet, which is a tribute to the first Miles Davis Quintet.

Tuesday jazz in Harrogate is at the West Park Hotel, 19 West Park, with special guest reedsman Dave Challis.

On Wednesday, Yorkjazz will renew its fortnightly Wednesday night spot at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, with everyone’s favourite saxophonist Frank Brooker as guest star (01904 679131).

Frank also appears on Thursday at York’s newest jazz joint, the Phoenix, George Street, York (01904 656401), where he is resident front-man with a quintet featuring Bob Smeaton (piano), Greg Wadman (trumpet) and Julian Richer (drums). The usual bass player is Christian Topman, who appears at Scarborough Jazz the previous night, with the Ben Beattie Quintet. More details from 01723 500570. This month’s big event for your diary will be the concert at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, on January 29. Faculty jazz musicians pianist John Taylor and saxophonist Julian Arguelles will be joined by Steve Watts (bass) and Martin France (drums), more details from 01904 432439.