ESTIMATES of when jazz was invented reckon between 100 and 120 years ago, with some going even further back to shortly after the American Civil War.

As the only original art form invented in the 20th century, jazz has influenced musicians of all persuasions. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB) inflamed London society when they came to Britain in 1919.

From the five musicians of ODJB, jazz-inspired groups expanded to the 12- 14- and 16-piece big bands of the 1930s and 1940s, popular chart success coming to Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and the Glenn Miller Band, the latter, in the time-honoured joke, providing the music for Second World War.

The music surfaced again with the 1950s jazz revival in Britain, and Humphrey Lyttelton’s Bad Penny Blues recording was a top-seller, followed by the three Bs of Barber, Ball and Bilk (Chris, Kenny and Acker), which led to the dizzy Trad-mad years from 1956 to 1963. The side attraction of trad was skiffle and its main populariser, Lonnie Donegan, allegedly inspired John Lennon to form his first band, the Quarrymen. Ironically, the Beatles briskly swept jazz from the public eye in 1963.

Still, the pesky old-timer continues to have its champions. Thanks to such, we can celebrate the success of jazz clubs in our region such as Jazz In The Spa, now in its 25th year. Rejoice in the nostalgic session this Saturday with Slide By Slide, the trombone duo of Kevin Grenfell and Boston Spa favourite Richard Leach with their hot quintet (01937 842544).

Alongside the oldsters who enjoyed jazz as the music of their formative years, a new generation of players and fans has emerged as jazz education has achieved respectability in university courses. Most courses seem to assign the beginnings of jazz to Charlie Parker and bebop, closely followed by the Blue Note recording artists of the 1960s. A trailblazer in academic jazz education is the Leeds College of Music (LCM), turning out graduates such as Alan Barnes and David Newton.

Pianist/vocalist/composer Joe Stilgoe (www.joestilgoe.com) is jazz college educated. Son of Richard Stilgoe, Joe has ploughed his own furrow with great success at clubs and festivals around Europe and tonight he comes to Wakefield Jazz (01977 680542) in a Christmas Party night of three sets with a buffet in the first break.

Sunday jazz in York begins with the quality piano trio of Zezo Olimpio at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222), at 1pm and rounds off at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, at 8.30pm with the Ian Chalk Quartet (01904 656401).

York’s mighty Blueflies will also be in town on Sunday night, opening for the Mick Ralphs Band at Fibbers, Stonebow. Ralphs was the guitarist on Bad Company’s first album and the Blueflies will be on stage at 9.15pm.

York’s newest session is at the Shoulder of Mutton, Heworth Green, with the Martin Boyd Trio on Tuesday at 8.30pm. Wednesday jazz is at the Phoenix Inn jam session fronted by James Lancaster (trumpet) and Chris Moore (piano).

Scarborough Jazz runs every Wednesday at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, and next week’s guest will be guitarist Jamie Taylor (01724 500570).

Your two choices for Thursday jazz in York will be Bejazzled with Mike Riley at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (01904 540911) and Jules and the Gang at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane.