DRUMMER/COMPOSER Dave Smyth is a recent graduate from the University of York ’s music department and is now a student at the Royal Academy. A tireless player and promoter of jazz, his tours often bring him back to the north.

Dave has three dates in Yorkshire coming up, beginning with Seven Jazz, Leeds, at 1pm on Sunday (sevenjazz.co.uk ), the Phoenix Inn, York, on Monday at 8pm (01904 656401) and Scarborough Jazz on Wednesday at 8.30pm (01723 500570).

The band is fronted by Australian saxophonist, arranger and composer Rafael Karlen, who followed Dave to the University of York to pursue post-graduate studies. The quintet he brings is truly international. Trumpeter Kim Macari (Scotland), pianist Zezo Olimpio (Brazil) and bass player Georg Ruschenmeyer (Germany) join the Australian saxophonist and English drummer Dave.

Drawing on influences ranging from the music of Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Kenny Wheeler and Ornette Coleman, the quintet will explore intricate compositions which allow the performers to stretch out and make their contributions to each piece. Like the standing at the bus stop story, your second weekend bus to arrive is the E20 Yellow Bus Stage, which rolls into Hull’s Freedom Festival tonight and tomorrow.

This is another David Porter J-Night brainwave to bring the best of northern jazz artists to the Wellington Street Fruit Market, joining musicians from Ireland and the Netherlands. There will be street performances, dance, comedy circus and loads more bands, including the Snake Davis Band, the Tim Kliphuis Gypsy Jazz Quartet from Holland and James Lancaster’s New York Brass Band from York (Old York, so good they named it once).

The E20 Free Finale will be at Pave Café Bar, Hull, on Sunday and with this event so close on the heels of the York Mystery Soul Festival, David Porter must surely be in line for a jazz knighthood.

E20? This is the European route from Cork, Ireland, to St Petersburg, via the M62 corridor in the north of England. Just so you know.

David’s trajectory as outstanding jazz/soul/world music promoter was first ignited as director of one of York’s finest venues, the late, lamented York Arts Centre.

This historic, de-consecrated church venue survives today at the back end of the Micklegate Run as a café bar fronted by two black-clad bouncers to control entry by shrieking hen parties and belly-to-belly stag party drinkers.

As we celebrate the 800th anniversary of York as a city, the Micklegate spectacle of stumbling inebriation and projectile vomiting takes us back to Roman excesses of 2,000 years ago. But I digress – back to the music.

After the summer break, the Wakefield Jazz Autumn series begins tonight with the Sam Gardner Quartet, featuring pianist Jamil Sheriff (01977 680542).

Forget the DDT-spray and track down the fantastic Blueflies winging off to the Tap and Spile, Scarborough, at teatime on Sunday.

For Sunday jazz in York, enjoy lunch with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at long-time jazz sponsor, Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222).

Round off your day at York’s premier jazz pub, the Phoenix Inn, George Street, with resident Sunday night band, the Ian Chalk Quartet at 8.30pm (01904 656401).

Monday night at the Phoenix has the afore-mentioned Rafael Karlen Quintet and the regular Wednesday night jam session will be fronted by Chris Moore (piano) and James Lancaster (trumpet).

Diary dates: Scarborough’s tenth festival runs from September 28 to 30, with compere Alan Barnes introducing the Darius Brubeck Quartet, Martin Taylor & Alan Barnes, Claire Martin and Paul Baxter’s Give A Little Love Orchestra: A Horace Silver Tribute and much more (01723 357869 and scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk )

• Marsden Jazz Festival runs from October 12 to 14 (marsdenjazzfestival.com )