THE Soweto Kinch Quartet was one of the sell-out attractions at the York International J Night Concert in May. If you get your skates on, you may just grab a ticket for the Quartet's appearance at The Venue, Leeds College of Music, tomorrow at 7.30pm.

Alto saxophonist Kinch was a Mercury Prize nominee and was named Rising Star 2002 at the BBC Radio Jazz Awards. His album Conversations With The Unseen has been selling briskly, fusing jazz with rap and hip hop.

The final event of the year at the Leeds College of Music is on Wednesday, with the LCM Jazz All Star Festive Evening. This will be a relaxed and good-humoured event. The £6 ticket includes a beer, glass of wine or soft drink and a mince pie. For both events above, call 0113 222 3434.

With most of the regional jazz clubs taking a Christmas break, Scarborough Jazz has the last word with its Christmas Party at Scholars Bar, the Bedford Hotel. The resident Mike Gordon Trio will host sitters-in and surprise guests and there will be festive food. Call 01723 379818 for details.

In the season of good cheer, it was sad to hear that York's jazz piano circle has been scrooged. The Pizza Express has attracted a lot of diners on the strength of the pianistic talents of such players as Lewis Barker, Karl Mullen, Paul Kind and Bob Smeaton, plus an added bass or saxophone on Saturdays. It seems that the York Pizza Express is following a national directive in cutting the duos entirely and limiting the piano jazz to Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Drop in at the Museum Street eatery and let the management know how you feel about the fantastic fingers of York's piano players.

There is still jazz to be heard in York every week until Christmas. Sunday lunch with Tim New's band continues at the York Hilton, while the celebrated Sunday night jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, create a feel-good atmosphere. Sunday jazz at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, resumes on January 4, 2004.

Karl and Nina play Fine and Mellow at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street, and the second weekly jam session is at the Black Swan on Wednesday. The Don Lodge band will be at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, on Thursday and look out in the New Year for details of the big bash to celebrate ten years of jazz at the city centre pub.

Jazz compilations are flooding the market and The Michael Parkinson Collection (2CD, Verve) is a five-star offering. It is tempting to dismiss such collections as cynical cashing in but this choice is seductive.

Refreshingly, alongside the many deceased musicians there are a good number of living artists - Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, Jane Monheit, Roy Hargrove and Clare Teal, plus the new heartthrob, 24-year-old Jamie Cullum. What A Difference A Day Made, from his new album Twentysomething, is as compelling as anything from the seasoned stalwarts.

Solitary Moon (Shirley Horn), Roll 'Em Pete (Joe Williams) and Aguas De Marco (Regina & Jobim) are some of the beguiling, if lesser-known, songs selected alongside the familiar Summertime (Ella & Louis), Manhattan (Blossom Dearie) and Blue Moon (Mel Torme).

Duke Ellington, Woody Herman and Quincy Jones represent Parkie's love of big bands and hard core jazzers will applaud the inclusion of Charlie Parker (Loverman) and Miles Davis (Bye Bye Blackbird). A high five for Parkie's choice.

Updated: 09:47 Friday, December 12, 2003