THE sudden hiccup which closed the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, has been solved and York Jazz resumed at the Swan on Wednesday. Check yorkjazz.com for listings of coming events.

Paul Baxter, James Lancaster and all at York Jazz are eternally grateful to Mike at the Victoria Vaults for housing the jazz over the crisis.

The Victoria Vaults continues to be a great venue with a vibrant music scene, with such outstanding bands as Free Spirit, The Blueflies, Travelling Band and many more. It also has a weekly pub quiz and a Polish night on Monday.

Anita Wardell is as much sought after as a vocal coach as she is for her vocal dexterity. Her band is one of the finest in Britain – Robin Aspland, Jeremy Brown and Steve Brown. Anita’s nationwide tour comes to Wakefield Jazz tonight (01977 680542). “The best small band of its kind in the world,” was US saxman Bud Freeman’s opinion of the Alex Welsh Band. Always remembered with affection, the Welsh band carved a Chicago jazz-style path through the prevailing Trad of the 1950s and 1960s.

A highlight of the year at Jazz In The Spa will be the Alex Welsh Legacy, featuring ex-Welsh John Barnes and Roy Williams. Enrico Tomasso, of the Leeds Tomasso jazz family and one of the busiest musicians on the London scene, will be in the late leader’s trumpet chair. Details from 01937 842544.

Rob Lavers was one of the Jazz Notes’ Top Five for 2008 last week. Although Rob’s Tuesday jazz club has come to an end, his regular Sunday quartet sessions continue from 1pm to 4pm at Kennedys, Little Stonegate.

Karl Mullen has started another Sunday lunchtime session, from 12.30pm, just outside of York at the Tanglewood Restaurant, Malton Road (01904 468611).

Scarborough Jazz at the Cask (01723 379818) runs every Wednesday and next week’s guests will be the Joel Purnell Quartet. Bristling with talent, the band includes Jamil Sheriff (piano), Zoltan Dekany (double bass) and John Perry (drums) and they released their debut album, Red Shift, just last year.

Jazz at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, has been promoting Thursday night jazz for more than 15 years, alternating Bejazzled with the Mardi Gras Band. Next Thursday is Bejazzled night.

In many ways, composer/ arranger John Warren’s career pattern is similar to that of guitarist/vocalist Miles Gilderdale, in that both pursue quiet lives in York between playing to great acclaim around the globe. In contrast to power trio The Blueflies in York, Miles’ other gig is with Acoustic Alchemy (seven million albums sold in the USA).

Warren leads the Voice Of The North big band and is as likely to be performing at the London’s Guildhall School as appearing at a top European jazz festival.

A flurry of recording activity by Canadian-born York resident Warren has resulted in a brace of new CDs, the first of which, Finally Beginning (Fuzzy Moon Records) is released this month. John has called together a nine-piece of Britain’s best, from long-established stars such as Gerard Presencer, Mark Nightingale and Stan Sulzman to young award-winners such as Gwilim Simcock, Julian Seigel and Jim Hart.

Apart from Monk’s Ruby My Dear (an elegant feature for Christian Brewer on alto saxophone), the remaining seven are Warren originals.

Known primarily for his big band writing, Warren shows equal mastery of smaller group possibilities. On track five, Unless, he pairs vibes/saxophone and vibes/bass clarinet playing harmonies and counter melodies against the ensemble.

The impressionistic Winter Solstice has solo piano explorations from Simcock and poised solos from Martin Shaw (trumpet) and Christian Brewer.

Snare drum and spaced horns herald a miles Davis tribute, Some Sketchy Spanish and the album closes with break-neck brass and rhythm on Krank.

Finally Beginning breaks no new ground but is a deeply rewarding and satisfying album and was also one of Jazz Notes’ Top Five for 2008.