INTERESTING to see that the trailer for the new film version of Sex And The City uses cutting edge music - Peggy Lee's Fever, followed by loads of sassy, big band swing.

Back to the future of the 1950s? Break out the vinyl, ye devotees of the hip.

On a more 2008 perspective, the current issue of Jazzwise magazine comes with a free covermounted CD, Brit Jazz Breaks Out. Featuring the cream of British, including Guy Barker, Nikki Iles, Martin Taylor and Alan Barnes, the opening track is by a new quintet, Empirical, who will swing into Wakefield Jazz tonight. The BBC entered the band for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Jazz Competition, part of the North Sea Jazz Festival, last summer and it won.

Schooled by Courtney Pine and Dennis Rollins, the band impresses with its original sound and professional stage presence.

Tenor saxophonist Nathaniel Facey and drummer Shaney Forbes have been seen and heard by enthusiastic audiences in York with Abram Wilson and Soweto Kinch, and this new band is high in excitement. Details of Wakefield Jazz from 01977 680542.

Expect a more predictable programme from the Jazz Gentlemen, who will be at Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night.

"Classic jazz to swing, via Chicago, " is one description; "a stimulating mix of New Orleans, Waller, Bechet, Hoagy C and the great American songbook" another. The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa, details from 01937 842544. The venue is unlicensed, so bring you own tinnies or bottles.

Also tomorrow, the Shire Hall, Howden, will present a blockbuster opener for its new season with the Doghouse Skiffle Group.

Details from 01405 767282. The programme will include ballads, blues and stomps. Yee-ha, y'all.

The Sunday lunchtime jazz choice in York is enough to make you ponder. The Rob Lavers Quartet will be at Kennedys Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222) and the Bejazzled duo of Tim New and Don Lodge will be at the Revolution Bar, Coney Street (01904 676054). The sessions are a mere finger snap and hop-skip apart and run from 1pm to 4pm.

The Harrogate Blues Bar is also a temptation on Sunday lunchtime with York's mighty, brassy nine-piece, BluePhunk. If anyone remembers York's 1980s big, bad funksters Best Friends, welcome back three original members of the band, who have arisen to funk again. Their new band mines a similar seam of the densely rhythmic legacy of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Parliament/Funkadelic. Phone 01423 566881 for more details.

Now that York's student population has returned, you will have to arrive early at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, for the regular Jam Tarts session (01904 686910) on Wednesday night. Anything can happen, all sorts of musicians may drop in.

Wednesday's rival attraction at the University of York will be the acclaimed pianist/composer John Taylor, with his international trio. Palle Danielsson (bass) and Martin France (drums) will be joined by special guest Julian Arguelles (saxophone).

The university is fortunate to have Taylor on the music faculty and the Julian Arguelles Octet as Ensemble in Residence, yet many York residents have not yet celebrated this good fortune. Such world-class musicians will not be here for ever, folks, so enjoy them while you can. The concert will be at 7.30pm in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall (01904 432439) on Wednesday.