PIANIST Jonathan Gee last appeared at the National Centre for Early Music with Tony Kofi and he returns at 4pm on Sunday as a duo with bass player Larry Bartley (01904 658338).

Jonathan has played with countless American and European musicians, such as Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Harry Allen and Mark Murphy, while Larry has been an integral part of groups led by Courtney Pin, Julian Joseph and Andy Sheppard.

Wakefield Jazz fires up again for the summer season tonight, with Geoff Eales’ Isorhythm (01977 680542). Geoff spent many years with the BBC, but this new band features young guns in the form of Ben Waghorn (saxophones) and Carl Orr (guitar) and Eales has added Fender Rhodes to his usual piano in the sextet.

From a new group playing new music, a step or so north on Saturday night to Jazz in the Spa has the music of Louis Jordan and Louis Prima, played by the Jazz Connection from the Netherlands. This exuberant jive and swing band is back by popular request to boogie the house down (01937 842544).

Brazilian-born pianist Zezo Olimpio specialises in samba and bossa nova, alongside his programme of jazz standards, and his trio is resident every Sunday lunchtime at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, York (01904 620222) from 1pm.

The resident Sunday night band at the Phoenix, George Street, is the sophisticated but accessible Ian Chalk Quartet at 8.30pm.

An early arrival is recommended, as it is also for the friendliest jazz jam on Wednesday at the Phoenix, fronted by James Lancaster (trumpet) and Chris Moore (piano). Call 01904 656401 or go to phoenixinnyork@live.co.uk for all Phoenix jazz details.

Scarborough Jazz also runs every Wednesday at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, and next week’s guests are Pat McCarthy and Rick Woolgar (01723 379818). Pat was described by Humphrey Lyttelton as “a world-class guitarist” and tenor saxophonist Rick has been a professional since the 1980s.

Thursday jazz in York is at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, with Bejazzled and Mike Riley alternating with the Mardi Gras Band (01904 540911). Next Thursday will be Mardi Gras night.

REVIEW

The Nicki Allen Sextet, You’re Gonna Hear From Me (33 Records)

Nicki graduated from the Leeds College of Music and quickly became a professional vocalist and voice teacher, working in pop, jazz and musical theatre.

As principal voice coach at the Royal Northern College of Music and visiting lecturer at Chester and Manchester University, she still finds the time tour her jazz sextet and their confident professionalism on this 13-track album is testament to the virtues of a working band on the road.

Pianist Graham Hearne and drummer Ronnie Bottomley are fellow faculty members at LCM. Thanks to them, the great American songbook programme will not frighten your granny and their arrangements lend a bright freshness to the album.

The tight horns voicing on Get Out Of Town (Bottomly) and the Latin-tinged You Go To My Head (Hearne) are an update of the invigorating efforts of Shorty Rogers.

Almost Like Being In Love and Nicki’s own composition, Working It Out, a stirring jazz waltz, are scored by Phil Steel.

Nicki arranges her own composition, Better Days, with voice and piano trio. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now becomes an other-wordly, ethereal vocal backed by subdued, bowed bass and distant-in-the-mix trumpet. Pin back your ears: this is the best of Yorkshire jazz.