AUSTRALIAN vocalist Anita Wardell has establishes herself as a leading light on the British jazz circuit.

As a teacher, she has mentored many of the young singers coming to prominence, Clare Teal being one. Tonight (3rd) Anita and her quartet come to Wakefield Jazz, her partner and pianist being Robin Aspland, one of Britain's finest. Details from 01977 680542.

Word must have got out that York's Mardi Gras Band will be cruising to Norway on the QE2 in August. To get in a first blow in retaliation, Norway has sent over a raiding party in the shape of its own band, Dixi. Tomorrow night (4th) Dixi will appear at Jazz in the Spa, Trustees Hall, Boston Spa. This young band was a hit of the recent Liverpool Jazz Festival. Details of Jazz in the Spa from 01937 842544.

Also tomorrow night, vying for attention with Boston Spa, is Howden Live's presentation of acclaimed duo Snake Davis and Jim Diamond. This programme of blues and soul is a fundraising event for the Cookridge Cancer Centre Appeal, so as well as a fantastic night out your cash will be going to a deserving cause. Details from 01430 431535.

The Richie Howard Quartet is one of a clutch of bands to win a prestigious Jazz Services tour for 2005, and this month you will have two chances to catch them in our region. On Sunday the band will play the Hi Fi Club, Leeds, at 1.00pm (01132 427353) and on Wednesday 8 June, the Hulljazz Club at the Goodfellowship Inn (01482 346239). Richie is one of the best young clarinet players to appear for years, with a style and technique shaped after the great Eddie Daniels and his group deliver a wide range of standards mixed with original material.

Saxophonist Tony Burcherello returns to Scarborough Jazz on Tuesday (7th). One of the most distinctive players around, Tony owns up to influences from Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon and Lockjaw Davis. Details from 01723 379818.

The monthly meeting of the Pickering Jazz Club will be on Wednesday at the Beansheaf, just on the York side of Pickering. Details from 01347 878642.

Two new CDs landed on the Jazz Notes desk this week, American/ English, by Acoustic Alchemy (Higher Octave Music) and Yeah! by the Alan Barnes Quintet (Specific Jazz).

Alchemy enjoy super-group status in the USA while remaining virtually unknown in Britain. If you are familiar with the strutting, hot-stuff Miles Gilderdale from his York band the Blue Flies, expect to be underwhelmed by this acoustic version. I don't know how to say this, and I don't want to be disloyal to an epically talented guitarist/vocalist, but this alchemy has more the whiff of Otis lifts than that of the late Mr Redding.

Buy the Blue Flies album, Tea, for real excitement.

By contrast, Alan Barnes' album is hairdryer-hot, 11 tunes written by Horace Silver to pin back your ears - Tokyo Blues, Lonely Woman, Senor Blues and more favourites.

Since leaving Leeds College of Music in 1980, Barnes has played in a bewilderingly wide range of musical ensembles. Check: Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Tommy Chase, Jazz Renegades, Humph, BBC Big Band, Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison... and enough more to fill my entire Jazz Notes column.

It is fitting that Alan has chosen to pay tribute to Horace Silver, a musician with whom he shares a happy and soulful approach. This album will brighten the darkest of days and warm the coldest room.

Updated: 15:38 Thursday, June 02, 2005