MARTIN Boyd will be taking his band down to Cornwall this weekend, where his band has become a firm favourite at the Bude Jazz Festival. Versatile players in his Kid Boyd Band such as Frank Brooker, Rod McNamara and Brian Herbert put the band a step ahead of the usual Trad bands, which is why Martin's is the one chosen to back the bigger name guest stars. This year's guests with Kid Boyd will be Alan Barnes and John Hallam, two musicians who play the whole range of reed instruments.

Tonight is jazz piano night at the Jacobean Lodge, Plainville Lane, Wigginton, York, and the venue presents a full acoustic jazz quartet on Sunday night. The band this Sunday features rising young York whiz-kids Andy Hillier (trombone) and Chris Moore (piano). A group of young ladies were overheard saying that the pair were "well wicked" when let loose on some hot Duke Ellington licks.

It was a happy day for the York jazz scene when tenor saxophonist Rob Lavers moved back to the city. Immediately booked at many venues around the region, Rob now runs weekly Sunday afternoon sessions in York at Kennedy's (01904 620222) in addition to his Wednesday Latin jazz nights at Bobo Lobo (01904 621900). Both venues are within an ace of each other in Little Stonegate.

Rob Lavers has promised to share a little of his jazz magic with anyone who has always wanted to play jazz, but somehow never had the time - until now. As part of the Autumn jazz programme at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) in November, Rob will run a jazz workshop, titled Never Too Late. The workshop will be dedicated to those leisured folk, the late learners, those jazz fans of a certain age with the time to finally have their fling at playing. Book your place now and phone the NCEM on 01904 658338.

Jazz in the Spa tomorrow night welcomes the Heart Of England Jazz Band, described as hot Traditional and Dixie. The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa, details from 01937 842544.

Tuesday jazz continues at the Last Drop Inn, Colliergate, York, with Nina Zagorski and Karl Mullen alternating. Phone 01904 621951 for more details.

Joel Purnell is an in-demand saxophone player and Leeds College of Music tutor. His heroes are Johnny Griffin and Dexter Gordon and his preferred music is generally standards, which pleases the Scarborough Jazz audience, where he is the guest next Tuesday.

The Wednesday night jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, were long ago discovered by York's student population. This being the vacation, non-students may have the chance to get in and enjoy the excitement of the talented Jam Tarts and their varied guests. For details phone 01904 686910.

The exquisitely packaged, if minimally sleeve-noted, series of CDs from the new Kind Of Blue label continues with Precious Moment by the Eddie Henderson Project. Henderson's Miles Davis-influenced trumpet and flugelhorn pay tribute to his mentor in choosing Blue In Green, Wild Flower and Dear Old Stockholm from the Davis repertoire.

Joining Henderson in this beautifully recorded session are two players from the upper echelons, pianist Kevin Hays and bassist Ed Howard. Drummer Billy Hart is a veteran of countless classic recordings and the trio deserve long service medals for this session.

In spite of Henderson's technical expertise, his hushed, low-key approach, plus over-use of the Harmon mute, render the selection akin to musical wallpaper. Long rolls of wallpaper. Dear Old Stockholm is over nine minutes long and Dance Cadaverous by Wayne Shorter clocks out at 9.34 minutes.

The unfortunate (and curiously un-seasonal) choice of Silent Night as a closing track sounds a mournful Last Post to a selection which increasingly induces slumber. Moments too precious, I'm afraid. Trumpeters may like it, but give it a listen.