JAZZ Notes caught two concerts at the National Centre for Early Music Jazz Weekend, both magical. Cuban violin maestro Omar Puente had the audience spell-bound, producing intriguing tones and timbres from an instrument rare in jazz, the violin. Pianist Robert Mitchell was a revelation, matching Omar’s passion and virtuosity, from slow and poetic passages to breakneck tempos, hands a blur at the keyboard, with great support from bass, drums and Cuban percussion.

Sunday had pianist/ vocalist Ian Shaw and trumpeter Guy Barker blinking in the pale sunlight at 4pm – “not the ideal time for a jazz concert !” observed Shaw. The near-perfect two hours of Barker And Shaw At The Movies showed how wrong he was. Both are movie buffs and had trawled through dusty songsheets of films noir of the forties and fifties to select their programme.

Hoagy Carmichael, Gershwin and Italian Nino Rota’s songs from Fellini’s La Strada, plus more, were introduced with humour and affection, the near-capacity audience hanging on every word. And who could have predicted that both Omar and Shaw/Barker would have audiences singing along ? Terrific programming by the NCEM, look out for the next jazz in Walmgate, Curios on July 2 (01904 658338). Singing along not expected at this one.

Ian Shaw is a guest on vocalist Georgia Mancio’s new album, Silhouette (Roomspin Records). The album is book-ended by the title track, the opening version with lyrics by Georgia, music by pianist Kate Williams, the closer a wordless a capella with three or four voices in harmonies that groups such as New York Voices would be proud of.

One of the voices is Mr Shaw and he also duets with Georgia on another of her originals, TransOceanica. Most of the eight musicians, involved in various combinations, contribute arrangements and drummer Dave Ohm shares production with Georgia, most noticeably on Finisterre. While she is the composer, Dave is the arranger, audaciously using only voice and percussion, a tour de force.

Tonight you can hear most of this promising new collection at Wakefield Jazz (01977 680542).

Tomorrow night, Jazz In The Spa presents Six In A Bar + Rosie, rescheduled after icy January cancellations. Willie Entwhistle, of the Temperance Seven, is on reeds, plus Rosie Harrison on reeds and vocals (01937 842544).

Having highlighted the rarity of the violin in jazz at the top of the column, a second appears tomorrow night at Howden Live (01430 431535), featuring Dutchman Tim Kliphuis, who ranks among the world’s finest in carrying the Stephane Grapelli legacy into the 21st Century.

The Phoenix Inn, George Street, is York’s newest jazz joint, with the resident Ian Chalk Quartet gathering a fan base every Sunday.

Tireless jazz crusaders Paul Baxter and James Lancaster bring their hot band Five Pieces of Silver, the music of Horace Silver, to George Street on Tuesday, and the new monthly Thursday residency features the Andy Cox Quartet, details from 01904 656401.

Scarborough Jazz operates on Wednesday at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace (01723 500570), and next week’s guests will be the Sarah Helen Hughes Jazz Quartet with music by composers such as Tadd Dameron, Kenny Wheeler and Georgie Fame.

Jazz fans are spoilt for choice on Thursdays, with two bands alternating at the Phoenix, plus two taking turns at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, and this week it’s the turn of Bejazzled and Mike Riley (01904 540911).

An additional temptation is at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, where Jules And The Gang offer an entertaining mix of mainstream jazz and easy listening.