TURKISH drummer Asaf Sirkis caused some dismay when he left the Gilad Atzmon Band to form his own group, but he followed his personal star.

The Asaf Sirkis Trio has since played festivals across Europe and the UK, guitarist Tassos Spliliopoulos and bass player Yaron Stavi making an irresistible combination. Hear the trio tonight at Wakefield Jazz (01977 680542).

Tomorrow night offers three very appealing choices.

The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) York kicks off its spring season with one of the biggest names in European jazz, Denys Baptiste. The dynamic, award-winning saxophonist will perform music from his acclaimed new album, Identity By Substraction (Dune Records). Denys is joined by the highly rated Andrew McCormack (piano), Gary Crosby (double bass) and drummer Rod Young (01904 632220). This could be one of the most memorable gigs of the year and the album is already rated as one of the best of 2011.

The enterprising Shed has bagged Snake Davis and Helen Watson for a gig at Hovingham Village Hall (01653 668494). If you are fortunate enough to have a ticket, take your dancing shoes.

The long-running Jazz In The Spa will welcome, for your third choice, the equally long-running Kid Boyd Jazz Band tomorrow night (01937 842544). Few bands cover such a wider range of mainstream, dixieland and swing, so expect a packed house at the Trustees Hall, Boston Spa.

Sunday jazz in York doesn’t get much better than the two regular gigs, Zezo Olimpio at Kennedys Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, and the Ian Chalk Quartet at the Phoenix, George Street.

Brazilian pianist Zezo’s trio starts at 1pm (01904 620222), while Ian’s quartet is at 8.30pm (01904 656401).

Young bass player John Marley has started a new Tuesday night session at Kennedys on a fortnightly basis with different bands showcased. The Phoenix continues the jam session on Wednesdays, fronted by Chris Moore (piano) and James Lancaster (trumpet).

Scarborough Jazz at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, also runs on Wednesday nights and next week’s guest is trumpeter Mark Chandler, currently with the London-based Jay Craig Big Band. Mark has also featured with the BBC Big Band, Elvin Jones and Peter King and you can hear him with the resident Mike Gordon Trio in Scarborough (01723 500570).

Thursday always offers multiple jazz choices in York. Bejazzled with Mike Riley are now in their 18th year of jazz at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (01904 540911).

Just down the road at the Royal Oak, Goodramgate, Karl Mullen is bidding for your attention with a changing roster of musicians on Thursdays, and also arranging gigs on Fridays and Saturdays at the same pub.

The Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane seems to have live music most nights of the week, and Thursday night has Jools And The Gang, fronted by Greg Wadman and Frank Brooker, with vocals from Rosie. Musical direction is from pianist Bob Smeaton (01904 654307).

York guitarist Don Lodge reviews Quiet Tiger by Kit Downes Trio (Basho Records)

Your enjoyment of this disc will depend on your views on “new wave” jazz and whether you prefer new compositions to proven jazz standards. It will challenge expectations and, like post-modern art, the audience will have to put in quite a bit to get much out. All tunes are written by Downes, at 24 a British rising star improviser and composer Bassist Calum Gouley and drummer James Maddren are joined by guests Adrien Dennefeld (cello) and James Allsopp (tenor saxophone/bass clarinet) on some tracks.

I tried really hard to like this album, but to my mainstream ears it felt uncomfortable. Lots of technique, textures, harmonies and cross-rhythms, but nothing beyond darkness and stridency; good music for a film, perhaps, one with lots of baddies. The trio has plenty of talent, and time – on a full-priced CD, I would expect more distinctive structure.