JAZZ is the only truly original art form of the 20th Century and over the 100 years of its development, the music has moved in and out of popularity, reborn every few years.

The latest new baby in the local jazz family is the aptly titled Phoenix Inn, George Street, York.

The Phoenix re-opened two weeks ago and continues to burn the jazz flame with a new night to add to the Sunday night sessions. Thursday will see a fortnightly session fronted by everybody’s favourite saxophonist Frank Brooker, with Greg Wadman (trumpet) and Bob Smeaton (piano). The new band started last night, the next gig will on November 19, and every two weeks from then on.

Sunday night’s weekly band with Ian Chalk, George Hall, Ed Jackson and Dave Cook have settled in nicely and two jazz nights should put the pub on the jazz fan’s radar.

The late, legendary saxophonist Bruce Turner was noted for a ferocious parsimony to match his sparkling playing. Onstage, the bandleader announced the next tune as The Best Things In Life Are Free. “No Dad, the free things in life are best,” Bruce was heard to murmur. The news that jazz at the Phoenix is free entry will remove any threat to the pockets of similarly parsimonious jazz fans.

High profile jazz in York tonight will be at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), Walmgate, in company with John Etheridge and his special guest, Kit Holmes (01904 658338). Etheridge is one of the world’s most respected guitarists, having played with Stephane Grappelli, Dizzy Gillespie and John Williams. Holmes is a singer/songwriter and rising guitar star, as featured on the BBC by Bob Harris and Andy Kershaw.

Tonight’s gig will serve as a curtain-raiser to the Jazz Weekend of November 20 to 22. Having established a reputation for ground-breaking programming, the NCEM weekend will not disappoint.

Opening on the Friday will be brother and sister Zoe & Idris Rahman (piano and clarinet), with Kuljit Bhamra (tabla). Zoe’s second album Melting Pot was voted Jazz Album of the Year at the 2006 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and her latest, Where Rivers Meet, was short-listed.

On the Saturday night, the NCEM will be hoppin’ and boppin’ as premier London swing/jive band Blue Harlem show off their forties and fifties rhythm and blues, and introduce new vocalist Sophie Shaw.

York’s ex-patriot saxophonist Rob Lavers returns to the NCEM on Sunday morning for the Late Learners’ Jazz Workshop (9.30am-12.30pm) and pianist Gwilym Simcock plays a solo concert at 4pm. Simcock has been described as ‘jazzier’ than JohnTaylor and akin to Keith Jarrett.

The closing concert on Sunday night at 8pm will be Farrago, members of the University of York Jazz Orchestra. The orchestra has produced some outstanding young jazz musicians and this will be an opportunity to catch a few stars in the making. Details of all the above are at 01904 658339 or at ncem.co.uk J-Night jazz in Hull presents a coup tonight with the appearance of Ian Shaw solo piano and voice to play a selection of classic love songs suggested by fans at his gigs. The venue is the Hull Truck Theatre, Ferensway (01482 323638).

Friday jazz in Wakefield comes tonight from the Tony Kofi Quartet, with support from the Tessa Smith Band (01977 680542).

Saturday night at Jazz In The Spa welcomes the Mike Daly Rhythm Kings, a Dixieland/mainstream group based upon the Alex Welsh Band (01937 842544).

The next Yorkjazz session at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, will be on Wednesday and will feature fast-emerging young talent Phil Meadows. Phil is a graduate of Manchester’s Chetham School of Music and plays the full spectrum of the jazz genre, was soloist with the college big band and fronts his own quartet. Details from 07788 536152.