CHART hits by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Queen and Gerry Rafferty may not strictly be jazz, but Huge’s gig at the Grand Opera House last Saturday was the best advertisement for the excitement of live music you are likely to hear.

Jazz chops came from George Hall (keyboards) and trumpeter Ian Chalk, whose spirited post-bop can be heard on Sunday nights at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, York. Huge’s Dave Kemp (tenor saxophone) and Pete Ogrom (baritone & alto saxophones) must not be sniffed at and could hold their own in any jazz jam session.

Everyone wants to be in show biz and our fantasies are enacted by Big Ian, an ordinary chap with a big personality, totally in charge as lead singer. Don’t miss the second concert by Huge tomorrow night at the Grand Opera House.

In case of a sell-out at the theatre, speed down to St Sampson’s Square, where The Blueflies will be playing at the Roman Bath (01904 620455). This is the only band that can match Huge for sheer chutzpah, though they are only a three-piece. Guitarist/vocalist Miles Gilderdale can play Jimi Hendrix, shift to BB King then lay a James Brown boogie on you, complete with howling vocals. Away from the Blueflies, Miles is a key member of Acoustic Alchemy, a British band that has sold seven million albums in the US. Oh, and he has played with Enrique Iglesias. Get a Miles Gilderdale autograph at the Roman Bath tomorrow.

Wakefield Jazz may have the most adventurous booking policy of any jazz club in the region and tonight’s bill does not disappoint. Saxophonist Chris Biscoe’s Quartet features BBC double award winner Tony Kofi also on saxophones in an exploration of the musical legacy of reeds virtuoso Eric Dolphy. The quartet’s CD Gone In The Air (Trio Records) features tunes by Dolphy, Oliver Nelson, Fats Waller and Thelonius Monk. Kofi and Biscoe are multi-reed players, from alto clarinet down to baritone saxophone. Details from 01977 680542.

Jazz In The Spa also has two saxophonists tomorrow night, with Alan Barnes and John Hallam, plus the Tom Kincaid Trio, an alternative to the mainly traditional jazz fare at the Spa, but a sell-out will be ensured. The Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa is unlicensed, so take your own tipple (01937 842544).

Kennedy’s Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, has two regular sessions, with Brazilian pianist Zezo Olimpio’s Trio every Sunday at 1pm and a new fortnightly session on Tuesdays (01904 620222). Zezo’s trio is one of the classiest in town, while young bass player John Marley aims to be equally impressive on Tuesday at 8.30pm.

The Phoenix Inn continues top quality jazz, after the Ian Chalk Quartet on Sunday night, with the celebrated jam session on Wednesday night and the 5 Pieces Of Silver on Thursday.

Two more Thursday sessions make for difficult choices, with the Old White Swan, presenting jazz for 17 years, or The Royal Oak which is a new jazz venue, both in Goodramgate. The Swan has the Mardi Gras Band (01904 540911), the Royal Oak the Karl Mullen Band.

Matching Wakefield Jazz for big name bookings is Scarborough Jazz (01723 500570). On Wednesday, their guests will be the Dylan Howe Quartet on the first gig of an extensive UK tour “the best neo-bop group in the country” (London Evening Standard).

Acclaimed drummer Howe focuses on original compositions and arrangements of Coltrane, Blue Note and David Bowie. Bowie’s Warszawa-Demo 1 is featured on Howe’s CD Translation 2 (Motorik Records) and is a preview of his new project, Dylan Howe and the Subterraneans. More on Howe’s CDs soon.