The Trad-packed Pickering Jazz Festival begins on Sunday with a Jazz Service at the Methodist Church, Potter Hill at 10.30am and an afternoon concert at 2pm, both with the Quayside Hot Stompers with Delia Glaister.

The festival continues at the Memorial Hall, Pickering, every night at 8pm through to Saturday 29 July. For details phone Norville Jackson on 01347 878642.

York is fortunate in having three venues featuring piano jazz tonight. The Pizza Express, Museum Street, has a live pianist. Keiran White continues to charm at La Vecchia Scuola, Low Petergate, and the Jacobean Lodge, Wigginton, features a changing roster of York's finest ivory ticklers.

The Jacobean expands solo piano into an acoustic jazz quartet on Sunday nights with Karl Mullen (piano) and Rob Lavers (saxophones), plus bass and drums.

Karl is an established star of the local scene, but York was not prepared for the excellence of Rob, recently returned from ten years as a top session player in London.

His expertise on saxophones and flute have been a delightful ear-opener. Phone the Jacobean for details, 01904 762749.

The enterprising young Mr Lavers will also be running a summer jazz workshop open to all 11-18 year olds in York from July 31 August 3. The four-day event runs from 9.30am to 4pm each day and the course fee will be £70 (£60 with a York Card), or £30 for families in receipt of Income Support or Working Tax Credit. Phone 01904 554660 for full details.

Tomorrow night, Jazz in the Spa welcomes the Yorkshire Stompers, not a clog-dancing team, but the cream of Trad Yorkshire jazz gathered into one band, at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa. Details from 01937 842544.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz (01723 379818) has a player's night and on Wednesday, the Rob Lavers boogies some Latin jazz into Bobo Lobo, Little Stonegate, York. Hopefully, Rob is back in York long-term, so make the chap feel wanted and support all his energetic activities, such talent needs your bum on his seats.

The Harrogate International Festival began yesterday and has a significant jazz element. On Wednesday, the 10-piece Mexican band, Los de Abajo, will be rocking into the Harrogate Theatre, global influences spiced with Mariachi and Ska. The following night, Clare Teal, voted Best Vocalist in the BBC Jazz Awards this month, will be at the Theatre. Both are at 8pm, ticket hotline 01423 537230.

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis must be the top-selling jazz album ever, so it is not surprising that a newly launched label has borrowed the hallowed title as its masthead. Although it is based in Switzerland, the label's aim is to record the finest North and South American musicians and so far they are doing a great job.

This week, Kind Of Blue presents us with something for the weekend, a package of three quality releases from North American stars.

A Letter To Dexter, by the George Cables Trio, brings together three alumni of Dexter Gordon's bands, with Rufus Reid (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums) joining pianist Cables. Playing four of Dexter's compositions and standards associated with the tenor saxophone giant, this is a beautifully recorded piano trio. Cables writes in tribute: "This CD is a thank you note to Dexter for sharing his stories, his talents, his music and his Dexterness with us."

Stanley Clarke, also a Dexter alumni, came to wider fame with Return To Forever on electric bass. On Stanley Clarke Standards, he returns to the double bass in a second piano trio album. Superstars Patrice Rushen (piano) and Ndugu Chancler (drums) complete the trio and bargain-seekers will be delighted with the bonus second disc, a 30-minute DVD of the trio recording in the studio. Tunes include Loverman, Salt Peanuts, Jeru and Take Five, with interesting variations in key and tempo from the original versions.

Saxophonist Phil Woods has won countless awards in his career Downbeat, Jazz Times and Grammys.

The Phil Woods American Songbook is his first album in a fifty year recording career devoted to standards. Suffice to say that, in company with trumpeter Brian Lynch, he brings his customary exultant swing and lyrical romanticism to this project.

A resounding winner and thanks to Kind Of Blue for making my weekend.