A RECENT petition to the Government, entitled “Stop criminalising live music with the Licensing Act,” attracted 16,949 signatures. Under the Act, a performance by a single musician in a bar, restaurant, school or hospital not licensed for live music makes the organiser a criminal.

Even a piano may count as a licensable ‘entertainment facility’. By contrast, big screen TV is exempt. The Government says the Act is to control noise nuisance, crime, disorder and public safety. Few MPs can have been in a pub with a vocal crowd watching football.

In May, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommended exemption for small venues, but the Government refused. However, the exemption would restore fairness in the regulations and more importantly, encourage grassroots live music venues.

The Coalition Government is reviewing the situation. A number of options are being considered and the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose MP, will make an announcement eventually.

In the meantime, let us monitor the demeanour of people emerging from live music and compare the mayhem of those emerging from venues providing recorded disco music. A trawl of court hearings over recent years would be interesting.

Your first gig of the weekend is tonight, when Wakefield Jazz presents ex-Jazz Warrior Jason Yarde (alto saxophone) and award-winning pianist Andrew McCormack (01977 680542).

The archetypal jazz audience may be aging, but happily the flow of young players into jazz continues. The youngest of York bands is the twenty-somethings Ben Beattie’s Jazz Age, now appearing regularly at the Phoenix Inn, George Street. Wednesdays at the Phoenix also has young Chris Moore at the piano and several budding players turning up for the mid-evening jam session, encouraged by trumpeter James Lancaster.

The Sunday night band at the Phoenix, the Ian Chalk Quartet, is far from aged, but four slices of prime York ham – George Hall (piano), Eddie Jackson (bass), Dave Cook (drums) and Chalkie on trumpet. Download the Ian Chalk album, First Days, from itunes.

Check on all the Phoenix goodies on 01904 656401.

Chez Chesterman is a Yorkshire-born trumpeter based in London and the south and his own band, Hot Stuff, focuses on lesser-heard jazz gems by Ellington, Armstrong and King Oliver, but he comes to Jazz In The Spa, Trustees Hall, Boston Spa, tomorrow night with Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band (01937 842544).

The music will be rooted in New Orleans, with a decided R & B flavour.

Jazz fans in York prepare for a busy day on Sunday, beginning with a couple of tasty lunchtime choices. Brazilian pianist Zezo Olimpio has a long-standing residency at Kennedy’s Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, from 1pm (01904 620222), while ubiquitous York trumpeter Greg Wadman brings his Joy Clouds Trio to Sunday lunch at the Royal York Hotel (01904 648111). Added joy comes with Pat McCarthy (guitar), one of Britain’s leading fretmen. Round off your Sunday with the Ian Chalk Quartet at the Phoenix.

The Andy Hillier Jazz Trio hauls York jazz up a notch with the First Tuesday Jazz Supper at the Dean Court Hotel, Duncombe Place, on Tuesday (01904 625082). Early booking is recommended.

Second trombonist of the week is Kevin Holbrough, a member of Dennis Rollins’ Boneyard band and Jamil Sheriff’s Octet, but hear him play solo with a trio at Scarborough Jazz, at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, on Wednesday (01723 500570).

Bejazzled, those seductive chaps with the added guitar of Mike Riley, play the Old White Swan on Thursday at 8.30pm (01904 540911).

An unfortunate clash of dates for your diary next Saturday night has vocalist Rosie Brown’ Quartet with Jamil Sheriff at the National Centre for Early Music (01904 658338) and Alan Barnes/Dave Newton at Howden Live (01430 431535).