LAST weekend's Scarborough Jazz Festival followed a national trend by attracting around the same numbers as last year, rather than more.

However, the spectacular Spa venue seemed near capacity.

Opening the proceedings was Big Band Byrne, an 18-piece featuring the pick of northern talent. The Bobby Wellins Quartet followed and Tina May, the Nikki Iles Trio and US saxophonist Scott Hamilton wound up to acclaim.

A sea-fret blighted Saturday morning's arrival at the Spa Complex, with folk turning out during the music breaks to clock developments on the sinister seafront aspect of encroaching mist. Sinister because of the gothic pull of Bram Stoker's Whitby, just up the coast and strange things happen up there. Some dark Whitby B & B's insist on catering exclusively for black-clad, multipierced, Goths.

Back in the Spa. The surprise hit was unknown outsiders Tangalgo, a piano trio of Phil Alexander, Mattie Foulds (drums) and Rick Standley (bass). Their emotionallycharged programme of jazz-tinged tango had the audience spellbound. Intriguing originals and spirited interpretations of complex Astor Piazzola compositions provoked a stampede for the CD table at the end of Tangalgo's set.

The spirit of the 1960s and 1970s jazz pervaded the weekend.

Bucking the trend were Tangalgo, Pete Oxley's Curious Paradise and the Norma Winstone/Gareth Williams duo with what the Americans call "left field" selections.

Gareth Lockrane's Septet evoked West Coast USA and Marty Paich on Saturday and Andy Panayi's Quartet tribute to Gerry Mulligan was in the similar pocket.

On Sunday, the Leeds-based Matthew Ball Quintet opened in post-bop vein and the Alan Barnes Quintet played selections from their album (Yeah! ) of Horace Silver tunes.

Mr Barnes was also the highly informative and hilarious compere for the three nights, contributing to the festive atmosphere.

With so many events packed into a short time, all jazz festivals have memorably spine-tingling performances. Scarborough's were the world-beating duets and solos of vocalist/pianists Ian Shaw and Lianne Carroll (Saturday night) and Georgie Fame with Guy Barker's Quartet (Sunday night).

Shaw and Carroll are two of Britain's most-feted jazz singer/pianists, winning countless awards over recent years.

Performing individually and in duet, songs by Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits sat happily alongside Hammersteins and Gershwins.

Georgie Fame exercised his jazz chops with "vocalese" (words written to jazz solos) by singing King Pleasure, Jon Hendricks and some of his own. His anecdotes ranging over 50 years of performing with such as Van Morrison and Jon Hendricks were the stuff of magic.

Guy Barker cemented his reputation as the most gifted and dynamic trumpeter in the UK and this closing night could have been sold out several times over.

Now, the whole thing begins again for Marian and Mike Gordon for next year's Festival. It takes all sorts.

Back to reality, and a run-down of regular regional gigs.

Friday: Wakefield Jazz, Ken Marley Sextet (Al Wood, John Perry, etc (01977 680542).

Saturday: Jazz In The Spa, Paul Leegan & the Legends (Lonnie Donegan Tribute, 01937 842544).

Sunday: York's first Descarga night (Latin jam session) at 8pm, 1331 Caf bar, Grape Lane, York.

Sunday: Acoustic Jazz Quartet, Jacobean Lodge, Wigginton, York (01904 762749).

Tuesday: Scarborough Jazz at Scholars (01723 379818) Jazz French horn, Jim Rattigan.

Wednesday: Jam session, Black Swan, Peaseholme Green, York.

Thursday: Bejazzled, Old White Swan, Goodramagate, York.