IF EVIDENCE were needed that York desperately wants a dedicated arts centre, look no further than the raging success of the Arts Barge project which has been running since July 7 at the Skeldergate Mooring, Terry Avenue, next to the Bonding Warehouse.

Offering a full programme of comedy, films, drama and music in the evenings and food and drink throughout the day, the Barge, above, has been a breath of fresh air. Last Saturday night, the Jazzmundo Arts Barge Hot Club Band rapidly filled the barge and the audience overflowed alongside on to the Skeldergate Mooring.

Impromptu performances pop up at all hours, notably accordion player Ben on several evenings and Patchwork Jazz Collective, a youthful quartet of excellent jazz musicians who dropped in one lunchtime.

Ben played a mind-boggling repertoire of French musette tunes, while Patchwork were captivating in a programme of jazz standards with total assurance unexpected in a group of 17-year-old school students from Harrogate.

Worth mentioning by name, Patchwork’s fluent saxophonist is Jordan Smith, with Hugh MacDermott (piano), Owen Lacy (bass guitar) and Art Newell (drums) – watch out for these jazz stars of the future.

Celebrated ex-Yorkie saxophonist Rob Lavers was in the city on a visit and dropped in last Monday to play with pianist Chris Moore and others.

The Barge has another week to run before sailing into the sunset. Diary dates include Mambo Con Rumbo (Wednesday) and an informal jazz session (Thursday). Details from Marcia (077880 821110) and artsbargeproject.com Jazz In The Spa presents traditional jazz tomorrow night with Jim McIntosh’s Jazzaholics (01937 842544). Best known from the Phil Mason Band, Jim has gathered this new band with Mike Pointon and Annie Hawkins on board for the band’s first visit to the Spa.

Virtuoso flamenco-jazz guitarist Eduardo Niebla has made Yorkshire his home for the past ten years and this weekend he will present the world premiere of his new composition, My Yorkshire Road.

A celebration of the Yorkshire landscape, lyrics are by Yorkshire poet and writer Ian McMillan. The premieres will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Kirkby Road, Ripon tomorrow and at the Joan of Arc Hall, Botton Village, on Sunday. Details from 01751 475777 and ryedalefestival.co.uk Sunday jazz in York will be at Kennedy’s Café Bar from 1pm and at the Phoenix, George Street from 8.30pm. Resident Kennedy’s pianist Zezo Olimpio is rumoured to be away, but doubtless the session will continue, call 01904 620222 for details.

The Ian Chalk Quartet will be at the Phoenix with the best in modern mainstream jazz and the celebrated jam session with Chris Moore and James Lancaster continues on Wednesday night (01904 656401).

The 24th Pickering Jazz Festival begins on Monday, with Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz at the Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering. Five more nights of traditional jazz will follow, details from Tony Kemp on 01924 376967.

City Screen Basement, York, will feature a double bill on Tuesday with blues band Bluesaloon and jazz from Jazz@Jerome’s (0871 902 5726).

Leading jazz guitarist Pat McCarthy and saxophonist Rick Woolgar will be guests at Scarborough Jazz at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace on Wednesday (01723 500570).

Spoilt for choice on Thursday in York, your choices are Bejazzled with Mike Riley at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, and Jules And The Gang at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane. Alongside guitarist Mike Riley, Bejazzled features Tim New on flute and saxophone (01904 540911). Jules leads the Gang from the drums, and the band includes Frank Brooker, Greg Wadman and Bob Smeaton (01904 654307).