The Brazilian pianist Zezo Olimpio premiered his major composition at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, based upon the Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein.

This ambitious project showcased the University`s Jazz Orchestra, 24-piece Chamber Orchestra, choir and saxophone soloist Julian Arguelles, all masterfully conducted by Zezo. The capacity audience raised the roof and the event will do Zezo’s growing musical reputation no harm. The modest young pianist is now back down to earth every Sunday at Kennedys Café Bar, Little Stonegate, from 1pm (01904 620222).

Your second helping of quality York jazz on Sundays will be at the Phoenix, George Street, with the Ian Chalk Quartet (01904 656401).

Meanwhile, there will be much hilarity and great blues-based music with the Blue Flies tonight at the Cottage Inn, Haxby (01904 763949).

Leeds was a hotbed of jazz activity from the 1950s through to the 1970s and one of the most successful bands was the White Eagles Jazz Band. The band has been reborn under the leadership of hot trumpeter Dave Kendall.

Celebrate the band once more at Jazz In The Spa tomorrow night (01937 842544).

The Hull Jazz festival begins on Sunday, running for a week, and features Alan Barnes with York-based 7 Pieces of Silver on Thursday at the Hull Truck Theatre. Headlining on Saturday July, 17, will be New Orleans-born trumpeter Abram Wilson and The Man Who Invented Funk, Pee Wee Ellis and his Jazz Sextet. More details from 01482 323638 and hulljazzfestival.co.uk Overlapping the Hull Festival, the Harrogate Summer Festival begins next Friday, the first jazz event being on Sunday, July 18, with Courtney Pine at the Royal Hall. Further jazz events include Christine Tobin/Liam Noble, Alex Wilson Salsa Mambo and Peter Cincotti. The Harrogate Festival ticket hotline is 0845 130 8840.

The Wednesday night jam session will be the second jazz night of the week at the Phoenix, George Street, with Chris Moore, James Lancaster and friends.

Chris also features on piano the following night, with the Andrew Cox Quartet (01904 656401).

Spoilt for choice as usual on Thursdays, you have two more gigs to choose from. Bejazzled with Mike Riley (guitar) will be at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, from 8.30pm, and Jules And The Gang will be at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane (09104 654307), fronted by Frank Brooker (reeds) and Greg Wadman (trumpet).

Martin France is one of Britain’s most prolific drummers, with an astonishing 70-plus albums since starting with the celebrated Loose Tubes in the 1980s.

He has provided the rhythmic pulse for John Taylor, Gwilym Simcock, Iain Ballamy and scores more.

The new album by his own band, Spin Marvel, The Reluctantly Politicised Mr James (Edition Records), comes as a surprise.

Conventional song forms are absent; instead there is a series of textural soundscapes combining live playing, programming and sampling. The overall dark, industrial ambience would fit the soundtrack of a post-apocalyptic TV film, but will be unwelcome to the average jazz fan.

Diary date: Chris Moore’s sell-out Jazz For Haiti gig back in February will have a similar six-band line-up for the Medical Aid to Gaza charity on Monday 19 July, at the Post Office Club.

Ron Burnett