WHAT a relief to see the York Barbican Centre open at last on Tuesday and packed to its 1,500 capacity for Huge. The entire audience was out for a good ’un, on their feet, arms in the air at Big Ian’s slightest suggestion.

The bar staff worked their socks off, but there is still some streamlining needed to serve everyone at the interval. Lighting and video projection was spot on, but as for the sound, as in the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM), any introduction of amplified sound creates problems. JSS Sounds are experts in the field, but like the NCEM the flat, hard surfaces need some sound baffling to clarify the muffled bingo-caller syndrome for any vocals or announcements.

Still, a fabulous first night and Barbican managers SMG (UK) Limited should soon solve any short-comings.

The University of York’s Spring Festival provides what could be gig of the week tonight at York City Screen Basement (CSB), Coney Street. Drummer Dave Smyth and his regular collaborator Paul Baxter on double bass have scored a coup with star saxophonist Iain Ballamy.

Bursting on to the scene with the iconoclastic Loose Tubes, Ballamy has played across the world with Django Bates’ Human Chain, the late Gil Evans, Mike Gibbs and the New York Composers Orchestra. Inbetween, he is a tutor at London’s Royal Academy and Trinity College of Music. Details of tonight’s concert, 9pm at CSB, from the University Box Office (01904 432439) or CSB (01904 541144).

Wakefield Jazz Summer season begins tonight with the Sarah Ellen Hughes Band, plus Dave O’Higgins (01977 680542). Sarah is ex-NYJO vocalist and saxophonist O’Higgins is close behind Iain Ballamy in his far-ranging experience and appeal.

There is no music tomorrow at Jazz In The Spa due to a previous booking, but next Saturday the Mardi Gras Band will be at Boston Spa High Street venue.

Sunday Jazz in York begins at 1pm in fine style with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222) and continues with equal excellence at 8.30pm with the Ian Chalk Quartet at the Phoenix Inn, George Street (01904 656401).

The celebrated weekly jam session continues on Wednesday at the Phoenix, fronted by Chris Moore (piano) and James Lancaster (trumpet).

Also on Wednesday, your writer turns up at Scarborough Jazz with trumpeter Greg Wadman (01723 500570) Greg will also be alongside Frank Brooker, fronting Jools And The Gang at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane on Thursday night (01904 654307). Pianist Bob Smeaton will be the musical director and vocals are from Rosie, plus one or two singers from the floor.

Spoiled for choice on Thursdays, at the same time Bejazzled with Mike Riley will be at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate (540911).

Proof for the cross-cultural nature of contemporary jazz comes with the new album from Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset, Golden Xplosion (Edition Records). Aided by Danish bass player Jasper Hoiby, Swedish drummer Anton Eger and British keyboards/horn player Django Bates, Neset’s compositions range from the cool Nordic of Sane and Epilogue, to the hot South American feel of the title track and City On Fire.

Angel of The North is elegiac, martial and pastoral, the soprano saxophone interweaving with bass, piano and drums. Much of Neset’s work is a cross-pollination of Pat Metheny and Frank Zappa, with a seasoning of Hermeto Pascoal’s darting, sinuous melodies.

Neset was a student of Django Bates at Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory and became a player in Bates’ stoRMChaser big band, more recently joining his teacher’s small group Human Chain.

As well as absorbing a great deal of influence from Bates, Neset is versed in the straight- ahead swing of Michael Brecker, the M Base of Steve Coleman and the anthemic voicings of Wayne Shorter and Weather Report. Dazzling, straight into albums of the year list.