LAST Friday star saxophonist Iain Ballamy was joined by York drummer Dave Smyth and Paul Baxter (bass) at the City Screen Basement.

Whoops of approval betrayed the youthfulness of the crowd, not surprising since this was part of the University of York Spring Festival of Music.

The trio played an exciting programme of Ballamy originals and jazz standards. A Dave Smyth original composition, Perpetual Motion, was in 5/4 rhythm and Dave’s solo virtuosity was evidence of how jazz drumming has progressed in recent years. At one point the saxophone briefly took over rhythm duties, as Smyth fronted with an intriguing range of sounds from the drum kit and cymbals.

This event was book-ended for your writer by startling spectacles in York city centre. The roar of packed, drunken revellers echoing along the River Ouse served as the soundtrack of eye-boggling visuals to come. Parties of women who seemed to have lost most of their clothes reeled and staggered on vertiginous heels, struggling to find their mouths with ciggies while screaming across the streets.

MEMO TO THE COUNCIL: In York’s next application for World Heritage status add a video of this weekend spectacle as proof that our history is not merely a theme park experience – the Roman baccanal is alive and well.

Your scribe will be heading for quieter times tomorrow night with the Mardi Gras Band at Jazz in the Spa (01904 842636). Regular reedsman Martin Boyd is away, so clarinettist Geoff Patterson, previously seen with the Yorkshire Post Jazzband, steps in.

Sunday Jazz promises nothing but the best in York with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at Kennedy’s café Bar from 1pm (01904 620222). The Royal York Hotel adds to the listing with one of their occasional Jazz Sunday Lunch Carvery sessions (01904 653681), offering a 20 per cent discount for the over-60s.

Finish your Sunday with one of the region’s finest bands at the Phoenix, George Street, with the Ian Chalk Quartet from 8.30pm (01904 656401). An additional gig at the Phoenix on Tuesday is with the Dave Smyth Trio at 8.30pm and the regular weekly jam session is on Wednesday night, with James Lancaster (trumpet) and Chris Moore (piano).

Scarborough Jazz operates every Wednesday at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace (01723 500570) and next week’s guest is expert bebop saxophonist Mark Toomey.

Thursday night in York we are spoiled for choice, with two top class bands to tempt you. Bejazzled with Mike Riley are at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (01904 540911), while Jules and the Gang are at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane (01904 654307).

CD review:

Tomasso Starace, a UK-resident Italian alto and soprano saxophone virtuoso, is touring the UK with his quartet (Frank Harrison, piano, Laurence Cottle, bass, Chris Nickolls, drums). Starace’s fourth CD, Blood And Champagne (Music Centre Real Productions) has four originals, a Prelude by Chopin and five standards including The Days Of Wine And Roses and The Party’s Over.

The performances and the recording quality of the CD are excellent, but the presentation and limited colours make over an hour of listening a fatiguing task.

For conventional ears, there are too many notes, long unresolved suspensions and colla voce soliloquies for easy enjoyment. Tomasso Stace would be great to see live, but taken neat at home he presents a challenge. While technique and energy are never in question, understatement and affection for the original standards seems to be missing.

Catch the Quartet at Wakefield Jazz on May 27 (01977 680542) and judge for yourself.

Don Lodge