THE rocking, rollicking Blueflies will be at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, at 4pm on Sunday.

Special guest will be multi-instrumentalist Frank Mizen, who played alongside Snake Davis, Miles, right, and Gav in Zoot And The Roots, York’s top band in the 1980s. An early arrival is recommended.

On Tuesday, the Vicky Vaults has Encouraging the Looney (I know, I know, take it up with them…), AKA pianist Karl Mullen and drummer Neil Scott, full details from 01904 654307.

The Phoenix Inn, George Street, adds another regular jazz night with the Kate Peters Band on the first and third Mondays of each month. Kate is fast becoming York’s favourite vocalist. Check out her new Septet CD album, which features Ian Chalk, Matt Anderson, Zezo Olimpio and more.

On Tuesday, bass player John Marley’s Quartet comes to the Phoenix, featuring Matt Anderson (saxophone) and pianist Pete Lee.

From Sunday night to Wednesday’s jam session, that means four nights of top quality jazz at the Phoenix; phone Jon for full details (01904 656401).

The Cheshire Cats band specialises in traditional jazz and standards played with panache and they come to Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night (01937 842544).

Sunday jazz in York begins with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, from 1.00pm (01904 620222), before pianist Karl Mullen and vocalist Jen Lowe strike up at the Spread Eagle, Walmgate at 7pm. There is more at the Phoenix with Chalky’s band from 9.00pm.

York’s Dean Court Hotel launched jazz with a bistro dinner four years ago and the irrepressible Andy Hillier Jazz Trio has forged great success (01904 625082). Occasionally, general manager David Brooks gives Andy a night off and next Tuesday’s guest will be pianist and singer Mark Gilroy (markgilroymusic.com) Following the Dean Court lead, the Pavilion Hotel, Fulford, now has a weekly Tuesday jazz night with dinner (01904 622099).

On Wednesday, Scarborough Jazz at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, presents entertaining trumpeter/vocalist Martin Jones (01723 500570).

Spoilt for choice on Thursday in York, Bejazzled and Mike Riley are at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (01904 540911) and Jules And The Gang are at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane (01904 654307).


REVIEWS

YORK fans have been bowled over by vocalist Kate Peters and you can now take her home, at least on CD.

The new Septet album is a contemporary take on standards and lesser-known pieces and it is a delight. The Way You Look Tonight comes with an infectious South African Hi-life rhythm and harmonies from trumpet (Ian Chalk) and saxophone (Matt Anderson). Ventures into scat can be problematic for vocalists, but on Minor Blues, Kate’s scat rises organically from the appealing wordless vocal melody shared with trumpet. Love For Sale gets a Latin treatment with a lovely bass intro from John Marley and the similarly rhythmic Money Talks heralds more great work from Zezo Olimpio on piano. Go to kate-peters.com for details of this top-class CD.

Saxophonist Matt Anderson has a new quartet album of his own with John Marley, Aubin Vanns (guitar) and Sam Gardner (drums), who are all on Kate’s CD.

Aubin’s mellow, Metheny-esque electric guitar in place of piano creates a cool, spacy dynamic, occasionally booted up a notch by Gardner’s drums in a compelling programme of original compositions. Ralph’s Cross has elegiac saxophone over gently meandering rhythm, guitar chords with a hint of atmospheric reverb and Marley’s full-toned bass.

Cold Spell is a warmly propulsive and rewarding four-part conversation between the instruments. The Vanns composition, Free Into Edinburgh, is a boppy, 6/8 piece and the guitarist stretches out in an articulate solo.

The Matt Anderson 6-track album can be streamed or downloaded free or at your own price at mattandersonquartet.bandcamp.com