YORK rivals Leeds as a hotbed of musical education, not only in its academic centres but also in the informal atmospheres of some city pubs, equally effective training grounds.

Every Wednesday the Phoenix Inn, George Street, runs a dragon’s den of a jam session, where would-be performers stand up and play for a live audience. Such training pays off, as demonstrated just before Christmas, when four young players wowed the capacity audience around the same time that results of their auditions came through.

Billy Marrows (guitar), Arthur Newell (drums), Charlie Lancaster (trombone) and Hugh MacDermott (bass and piano) played a compelling session and news emerged of their auditions. Billy has been offered places at the Welsh Academy of Music and London’s Trinity College, Hugh and Charlie will take up places at the Birmingham Conservatory and Art will have had news of similar success as Jazz Notes goes to press.

The friendly house band which welcomed all-comers on the night were James Lancaster (trumpet), Trevor King (drums) and Karl Mullen (piano), plus George Beastall (bass).

The regular Phoenix jazz programme is set to resume for 2013 with Ian Chalk’s Quartet playing the first and third Sunday of the month, the Kate Peters Quartet on the first and third Monday and the jam session will resume on Wednesday. Phone 01904 656401 to confirm before setting forth.

It may have been 20 years ago today that Sgt Pepper taught the band to play, but for that same length of time two of York’s most popular jazz acts have been entertaining locals and visitors in The Old White Swan, Goodram-gate, (01904 540911).

Bejazzled, founded by Don Lodge and Tim New has alternated with the Mardi Gras Band every Thursday and it is coming up to 20 years since the two bands began working to make the OWS not just a place where visitors can drop in for a spot of free entertainment, but also where guest musicians and singers can call in for a natter and a drink.

Many musicians and singers have taken the floor with both bands. In no particular order, they have included Charlie Abel, John and Carol Addy, Chantal and James Lancaster, Paul Baxter, Karl Mullen, Julian Richer, Bob Mason, Andy Hillier, Joan Whitehead, Owen Bryce and many more. Next Thursday will be Bejazzled night, with Mike Riley.

Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night is in traditional mode with the return of the Savannah Jazz Band (01937 842544).

Scarborough Jazz has been running for almost 30 years and the current venue every Wednesday is the Cask, Cambridge Terrace (01723 500570). Next week’s guest will be York’s own Ian Chalk (trumpet) with Steve Whitehead (saxophone).

REVIEW

Paul Baxter, Monuments (paulbaxtermusic.com)
The Baxter has been busy again and this release is with his new quartet of Tom Taylor (piano), Jon Ormston (drums) and Tom Harrison (alto saxophone and flute) playing a densely programmed collection of his new compositions. In fact so dense are some compositions that several listenings are required to catch all the nuances and complexities.

The title track has a spacey, lyrical piano introduction before Paul’s big bass sets up a pendulum-like ostinato over which Harrison’s alto saxophone floats freely. Unison piano and saxophone return briefly to a compelling melody. The urgent bridge passage in Darkish appears to be a tribute to Night in Tunisia, the spikey melody leading to a raising of tension, rounded off by an urgent alto solo.

Blams is a no-nonsense up-tempo piece, a dancing melody which features a muscular double bass solo. Para Lecouna has a flute lead over a Latin rhythm more subtle than the usual tendency to drive too furiously. The famous Baxter energy is well-captured in yet another impressive album, close on the heels of his previous release, The Thaw.