“IT’S EVERY festival organiser’s nightmare,” said Mike Gordon, Scarborough Jazz Festival director, hearing that headliner Jacque Loussier will be unable to play because of illness.

“However, I can guarantee that audiences will be dazzled by his replacement, the David Rees-Williams Trio, which specialises in placing classical themes in the context of the jazz piano trio.”

Jon Snow, of the London Evening Standard, agrees. “…the trio far outstrips anything achieved by Jacques Loussier or the Swingles. They are on another plane and deserve huge recognition”. The festival runs from September 23-25, details from 01723 357869.

The weekly Scarborough Jazz at the Cask sessions continue on Wednesday with guest saxophonist Joel Purnell (01723 500570).

The Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival begins tonight at 6.30pm and star attractions include Alan Barnes with Paul Baxter’s Pieces of Silver Band, Jacqui Dankworth and Claire Martin (01262 490324 and burtonagnes.com).

A survey commissioned for Jazz Services reveals that 80 per cent of jazz musicians earn less than £25,000 a year and for a typical musician there never seems to be enough work in the diary. There was an encouraging expansion of interest in the 15 to 34 age group and a rise of the number of women. “While comparisons… show an increase in revenue from ticket sales and income from education, revenue from CD sales, download sales and PPL income has declined, reflecting the general trend of the public’s reluctance to pay for music,” notes the survey. However, it was a surprise to discover that despite the small scale of many jazz promotions, this sector of the music business is worth £80 million to the British economy.

Jazz UK reports that Jazz Yorkshire will invest £26,500 during 2011/12 in ten clubs across Yorkshire and Humberside in a bid to continue the good health of the music in our region.

The York jazz scene does not receive any such funding, but the sheer number of bands and venues is the envy of other cities. Pubs, restaurants and hotels have promoted jazz for many years and it is their sponsorship (and musicians’ readiness to play for buttons) which accounts for low-entry fees or free entry at most pub venues.

Your jazz week begins tomorrow at Jazz In The Spa with the traditional jazz of the Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band (01937 842544). Next stop will be Sunday lunchtime at York’s Kennedy’s café Bar with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at 1pm (01904 620222).

The Blueflies high-energy fun machine returns to the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, at around teatime on Sunday (01904 654307) while Karl Mullen and Jen Lowe continue Sunday evenings at the Spread Eagle, Walmgate.

York’s Phoenix Inn, George Street justifies its Jazz Yorkshire Pub of the Year award, with no fewer than four gigs with rock-bottom entry charges of between £2 to £4 for top class music (01904 656401).

Sunday night’s band will be the Ian Chalk Quartet at 8.30pm, while a special presentation on Tuesday will be the Kate Peters Quartet. A talented and versatile singer, Kate has worked around the world and features as a session singer on several dance compilation CDs. Her TV appearances have included Heartbeat and The Royal. Drummer Eddie Hick takes a busman’s holiday from Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble to join Kate’s dynamic quartet.

Third Phoenix gig of the week will be the celebrated jam session on Wednesday night, fronted by James Lancaster (trumpet) and Chris Moore (piano), while the fourth on Thursday features virtuoso guitar-led fusion with Nik Svarc’s Trio.

Fans are spoilt for choice on Thursday in York. Jostling for your attention with the Phoenix will be Bejazzled and Mike Riley at the Old White Swan Goodramgate (01904 540911), while Jules and the Gang will be at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane (01904 654307).

That is 11 terrific gigs and a festival in one week – ain’t it grand up north?