THERE'S an old jazz gag about a man who takes a holiday in an exotic country and is delighted by a chorus of native drummers playing in the hills above town. After three days and nights of drumming, the man's head is starting to spin and after four he is suicidal.

As he goes to the desk to check out, the drumming stops. "Fantastic, that's great," gasps the man. "No sir, bad news," says the desk clerk. "Now, it's the bass solo." However, there are some bass players whose solos we cherish and Charlie Haden is one.

Haden's early recordings with his Liberation Music Orchestra took much of their inspiration from songs of the Spanish Civil War and liberationist anthems from South America.

In 2001 his album of Cuban and Mexican boleros, Nocturne, won a well-deserved Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

His new CD Land Of The Sun (Verve/Gitanes) focuses on the rich musical heritage of Mexico and mainly on love songs by composer Jose Sabre Marroquin, some of which are familiar through their English versions. Alongside his Nocturne partners Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano) and Ignacio Berroa (drums), Haden has drawn together a spirited and accomplished collection of ten musicians.

Cuban-born Rubalcaba is responsible for the ravishing arrangements, which employ the full dynamic range of the instruments. The textures and voicings are beautifully managed from track one, Marroquin's It Was You. The theme is stated by the mellifluous alto saxophone of Miguel Zenon and the trumpet of Michael Rodriguez, both unknown to me.

I Only Dream Of Your Love is led by acoustic guitar, bass, piano and spare hand percussion, with a subtle rhythm straight from Ravel's Bolero on brushes and snare.

Mexican songwriter Agustin Lara's You Belong To My Heart is familiar from versions by Sinatra and Elvis. Armando Manzanero's Esta Tarde Vi Llover was covered in English by Tony Bennett as Yesterday I Heard The Rain and is essayed here by the warm, dry saxophone of Joe Lovano.

This reverential and lyrical album is one of my CDs of the year.

Fans of free jazz should head tonight for the Leeds Termite Club. Alan Silva is a synthesizer player who has worked with Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor and Pharaoh Sanders and he is joined by power drummer Roger Turner. The venue is Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane. More info from: www.qubik.com/ termite/events.html

Back in the world of jazz based on tunes, Wakefield Jazz delivers the goods tonight with the Benn Clatworthy Band, with the top British rhythm section of Robin Aspland, Paul Morgan and Martin Drew. Details from 01977 680542.

There is more saxophone magic tomorrow night at Jazz in the Spa, when against their usual diet of trad, Joel Purnell's Quartet will be at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa. Call 01937 842544 for details.

Jamil Sheriff is the pianist with Joel's band and he will be taking his own octet to Leeds College of Music on Wednesday. The enterprising young Mr Sheriff has won Arts Council funding for the octet. The CD is a stormer. Details on 0113 222 3434.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz at Scholars presents The Strayhorn Project, a leading British quartet led by Phil Lee on guitar. Call 01723 379818 for details.

Thursday promises a packet of three. York Sightsonic Festival sees the return of Dennis Rollins' Griots t' Garage, the trombonist's project on the spread of musical history out of Africa. The venue is Temple Hall, College of York St John (01904 658338).

Jazz in the Sticks presents Nina and Karl playing Fine and Mellow at the Farmers Inn, Brafferton Helperby, while Leeds Jazz at The Wardrobe has the Electric Dr M & Spring Heel Jack, a mixture of electronica and "left-field dance scene". Details on 0113 222 3434.

Updated: 15:42 Thursday, October 07, 2004