AS WELL as having many options to hear music in York’s pubs and restaurants with no entrance fee, we are also blessed with talented buskers in the city’s streets. Beth McCarthy, the 16-year-old snapped up by Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson on BBC1’s The Voice, is just one example of our daily fare.

It comes as no surprise to Jazz Notes that many young instrumental groups are picking up on swinging early jazz. Last Monday, I heard a trumpet, trombone, saxophone and drums group playing music by Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, while busking veterans Karl Mullen and Kieran White can rip through anything from Scott Joplin and Mead Lux Lewis to Dave Brubeck and Duke Ellington.

Out of your chair and take the air to catch some of the goodies.

For a more relaxed jazz treat indoors tonight, make tracks for Skeldergate/Cromwell Road to find Middletons Hotel (previously Lady Anne’s) for tasty jazz standards with Bejazzled and guitarist Mike Riley (01904 611570).

Head for Chaplin’s Bar, named after the British-born Hollywood star, who stayed in the original Skeldergate house when appearing in the mid-1960s York Festival. Before becoming a hotel, the house was lived in by Hans Hesse, director of the York Art Gallery and also the sadly long-defunct festival.

In passing, your writer’s first job in York was as manager of the Festival Club, held in the Assembly Rooms, but I digress.

Sunday jazz in York is as healthy as ever, beginning at 1pm with John Marley and friends at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222). The good times continue at 7pm with Karl Mullen (piano) and Jen Low (vocals) at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street (01904 652050).

A short walk away at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, Ian Chalk will present his new Quartet line-up at 8pm (01904 656401). The quartet now has Martin Longhawn (piano), Tim Carter (drums) and a second Sunday appearance by John Marley (bass). Ian and the band are developing new material.

“Very cool, groove-based modern jazz,” said Ian. “More news of recordings, gigs and tours soon.” On Monday, John Marley makes his third appearance in two days with the fabulous Kate Peters Quartet at the Phoenix.

The Phoenix is also the place to be on Wednesday night for the popular jam session at 8pm. Led by Chris Moore (piano) and James Lancaster (trumpet), budding players can join them in the safe hands of Trevor King (drums) and either Christian Topman or George Beastall on bass.

Wakefield Jazz returns tomorrow night with Matt Anderson’s Wildflower Sextet, which includes up-and-coming ex-York guitarist Alex Munk, alongside trumpeter Laura Jurd and pianist Jamil Sheriff (01977 680542).

Traditional jazz continues with a touch of good-humoured banter at Jazz in the Spa on Saturday 18 January with the Tame Valley Stompers from West of the Pennines (01937 844898).

Scarborough Jazz operates every Wednesday at the Cask Inn, Cambridge Terrace and next week’s guests will be the Sultans of Thwing, a versatile band playing jazz standards and bluesy gipsy jazz (01723 500570).

Leader of the Sultans is guitarist John Hutchinson, who travelled the world with David Bowie before settling in Yorkshire, and he is joined by violinist Paul De Villenueva.