I WAS delighted by surprise visits this week from two musicians well known to York jazz fans. Sax player Julian Nicholas dropped off a copy of his excellent CD, Food Of Love, saying he hopes to be touring soon with Claire Martin.

The versatile Richard Pite (tuba, flute, bass, drums) played with the VIPs of Jazz at the Grand Opera House last Sunday (29th). Richard booted the Pasadena Roof Orchestra along with the infectious rhythm of his double bass and, on this occasion, sousaphone. Richard handles the music booking for the (wait for it) Boisdale Jazz and Cigar Club, Ecclestone Street, London, six nights a week and promises to lend me a gas mask if I chance to visit.

The FuseLeeds04 Festival continues with tonight's headline gig by festival director Django Bates' Human Chain, with the Smith Quartet and Swedish vocalist Josefine Lindstrand. The concert is at the Quarry Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse (0113 213 7700). Nearby at the Wardrobe, the Leeds College of Music Contemporary Jazz Ensemble will be playing a free-entry session at 6.30pm. There will be a live broadcast from Leeds city centre tonight (5th) at 11.30 on BBC Radio 3, which will include Gary Husband's Wednesday gig.

Tomorrow night is film music night at the Venue, Leeds College of Music. Joanna MacGregor, Billy Jenkins, Matthew Bourne and Jan Kopinski will each provide a live soundtrack to a silent film of their choice. Call 0113 222 3434 for details.

Clare Teal has been receiving a lot of media attention over the past year. She was nominated twice in this year's BBC Jazz Awards and tomorrow her busy touring diary brings her to the Shire Hall, Howden. The Hall has a bar, caf-style seating and candle-lit tables. Phone 01430 431535 for details.

Jazz in the Spa is at the new venue of the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa. Tomorrow night's band will be the Yorkshire Stompers and you must take your own drinks. Find out why from 01937 842544/842636.

Great playing high on the open mike at last Sunday's jam session at the Black Swan, York. George Hall, Trevor King, James Lancaster, Paul Baxter and Pete the friendly Shark from party band Huge were blowing their best.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz at Scholars will welcome vocalist Beckie Roberts and the talented local saxophone player, Julia Wray. Call 01723 379818 for details,

On Wednesday, Hulljazz will present the Martin Jones Quintet; phone 01482 492868.

Albums from the Caber Music label have a uniquely European sound and Chick Lyall's new CD Broken Poems continues the trend. The Scots trio and Swedish saxophonist Joakim Milder are all composers and perform almost telepathically on a series of group compositions and a three-part Iliac Suite by Lyall. Solos tend to be modal rather than on conventional chords and the result is a muscular and dynamic trip into the adventurous hinterland of free jazz.

In contrast, Gardenias For Lady Day (Columbia) is almost a continuation of James Carter's on-screen appearance in Robert Altman's 1930s-set film, Kansas City, in which the young American employed lush style of the Basie Band's saxophonists.

In this tribute to Billie Holiday, he stretches out on a selection of her songs, plus four by her contemporaries. Gloria was recorded by Don Byas, Sunset by Cab Calloway, Indian Summer by Coleman Hawkins and Carter evokes Byas and Hawk with big-toned authority, even when he switches to soprano saxophone on Indian Summer. He moves to baritone for A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing and to bass clarinet on Strange Fruit and Sunset.

The gorgeous strings on six tracks and the virtuoso playing of Carter make this a contender for album of the year and the British issue has two bonus tracks to extend the wickedly luxurious enjoyment.

Updated: 15:17 Thursday, March 04, 2004