TONIGHT (4th), Wakefield Jazz presents what might be termed a progress report on the state of jazz in Britain, the youthful Christian Brewer Band.

Alto saxophonist Brewer shares the front line with vibraphone player Jim Hart and the band brings a refreshing spin to familiar material. Details from 01977 680542.

Tomorrow night (5th), Jazz in the Spa welcomes the return of Keith Stephens' Gypsy Jazz. Guitarist Keith adds the violin of Mark Piggott to complete the mix for that Hot Club of France sound, details from 01937 842544.

The first jazz jam session of the week in York is at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, on Sunday night (6th), with the second on Wednesday night (9th). Nina and Karl play Fine and Mellow at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street, York, on Monday. On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz presents the multi-instrumentalist Al Wood, who is fluent on reed and brass instruments. The man is a marvel. Details from 01723 379818.

Also on Tuesday, Pocklington Arts Centre will be besieged by every guitarist in the area, panting to see the guitar supergroup, Martins 4. The group is the most stunning line-up imaginable, four virtuoso acoustic players together on one stage, all from different genres of music. Martin Carthy is an English folk player, while Juan Martin plays flamenco. Martin Simpson is a finger-style player in the slide Mississippi style and Martin Taylor is a jazz specialist famed for his collaborations with Stephane Grappelli. Details on 01759 301547.

Pickering Jazz Club has been running for four years, but the Pickering Jazz Festival is 15 years old this year. The next monthly club will be at the Beansheaf on Wednesday and the 2005 Festival runs from July 24-30. The focus will be firmly on British Trad, details on 01723 859495.

Over in Hull on Wednesday, singer Garyu Grace will be trawling through the Great American songbook at Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship Inn. Details from 01482 346239.

The Sahara sounds of Ensemble Tartit received an enthusiastic review in Monday's Press, after their appearance at the National Centre for Early Music. There will be a second chance to catch this exciting group at the Leeds Wardrobe on Thursday. Details from 0113 222 3434.

The Leeds International Jazz Conference takes place next weekend at the Leeds College of Music. Anyone with an interest in jazz may attend. Contact Louise Wood on 0113 222 3434.

As a curtain-raiser for the Harrogate Festival (July 21 to August 5), Harrogate Theatre will present the award-winning young British saxophonist Soweto Kinch on Friday, March 18. Booking is now open on 01423 502116.

Ron Burnett

Updated: 08:37 Friday, March 04, 2005