WORLD Service Project (WSP) is a young quintet comprising some recent University of York alumni, most prominently keyboards player/ leader/composer Dave Morecroft.

The band’s new album Relentless (Brooke Records) is described as “infectiously enthusiastic” and that is exactly what jumps out of the speakers.

There’s Always One recalls 1970s funk/jazz of classic Riverside Records, brisk unison passages alternating with spacey solos, underpinned by Fender Rhodes piano; the title track is in similar exuberant vein. Song For Jen is a touching, trombone-led ballad, while Hero Of The Bus is a tour de force, electronic tweaks added to the playfully jousting instruments, with a dash of John Zorn thrash-jazz. The Screamer has more fun mayhem, with a Stanley Clarke-influenced bass solo from Conor Chaplin.

WSP is close in spirit to a previous university-based outfit, Best Friends (1977-1982), the dense musicality of ensembles giving way to funky rhythmic fun and virtuoso solos.

Judge for yourselves when the band appears live at Fibbers, Stonebow, at 8pm on Sunday (01904 651250). As usual, Sunday presents knotty choices. Lunchtime is stress-free with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at Kennedys Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, from 1pm (01904 620222).

Alongside WSP on Sunday night, the long-running Ian Chalk Quartet will be at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, York from 8.30pm (01904 656401).

An adventurous alternative is a short train ride away to the very door of the King’s Head pub on Halifax station, where the Blueflies will rip it up from around 3.45pm. According to main man Miles Gilderdale, the king on the pub sign is Jimi Hendrix; rejoice!

An icon of British jazz for 50 years, saxophonist Peter King continues to play his Charlie Parker/Coltrane repertoire with astonishing stamina. “A wonderful musician, Peter King is a master of his instrument. People are aware of that here in America as well as in England,” (Elvin Jones). The Peter King Quartet will be at Wakefield Jazz tonight (01977 680542).

In York tonight, the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane has four-piece blues band, Bluesaloon, at 8.30pm (01904 654307). The band’s original drummer Keith Jackman is reunited with John Hall, Pete Hull (guitars) and Dave Smith (bass).

The one-man jazz machine Karl Mullen is also programming weekly sessions at the Royal Oak, Goodramgate, adding Fridays and Saturdays to his regular Thursdays with a changing roster of different musicians and singers. Discover Karl’s guests this week on 01904 628869.

The White Eagles Jazz Band was led by the late clarinettist Martin Boland and the band lives on led by trumpeter Dave Kendall, at Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night (01937 842544).

There is more Trad and Dixieland at the Bell Hotel, Driffield, with the Jazzbos on Tuesday at 8.30pm.

The Phoenix Inn has a special presentation on Tuesday with the Alec Robinson Quartet (01904 656401). The pub continues to host the celebrated Jam Session every Wednesday, fronted by Chris Moore and James Lancaster.

Scarborough Jazz at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, also runs on Wednesday and next week’s guest will be Tina Featherstone (01723 500570), a Leeds College of Music graduate who spent two years with a Stan Kenton tribute orchestra. Next weekend the Scarborough arts event Coastival will run a big jazz day on Saturday February 19, in The Spa Ocean Room. Claire Martin will be headlining at 7pm, while Dennis Rollins’ Badbone & Co will present an afternoon concert at 2pm, supported by award-winning vocalist Sarah Ellen Hughes. Phone 01723 384545 for details.

Thursday nights in York presents multiple choices to match Sundays. Decide between the Mardi Gras Band at the Old White Swan (01904 540911) and the Karl Mullen Band at the Royal Oak (01904 628869).

Both pubs are on Goodramgate.

The National Centre for Early Music began its spring/summer season last weekend and the first big jazz event will be on February 26, when Denys Baptiste will showcase his new album Identity By Subtraction (Dune Records).