"YO-HO-HO and a bottle of rum" to the young York musicians who ran the Pirates Of The Caribbean jazz night last Tuesday to a near-capacity audience.

The Stagecoach Youth Theatre, Monkgate, brought back fond memories of the late, lamented York Arts Centre - theatre lighting, cabaret-style tables and raked theatre seating.

The band exploited the nautical theme with costumes and music.

Pianist Chris Moore led a pastoral version of A Life On The Ocean Wave in 5/4 time, with double bassist Paul Baxter and drummer Eddie Hick firm as the proverbial rock. Trombonist Andy Hillier trawled the trad songbook for a stirring Treasure Island that took him scooting around the auditorium. He joined with superlative saxophonist Rob Lavers in a programme of mainstream standards.

Particular congratulations to Chris Moore and his girlfriend, Rosie, whose company manufactured all the colourful props and set dressings. Outstanding. Future jazz bookers note - the venue has terrific acoustics.

Pirate jazz double bass player Paul Baxter is a Latin Jazz enthusiast and most of the above feature in his Los Feos Band. Their next Descarga (Latin jam session) is at Bar 1331, in York's Swinegate Quarter, on Sunday. All welcome.

UNMISSABLE BAND OF THE WEEK:

PANAMANIAN-born Billy Cobham (the world's greatest living drummer?) has played with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock and countless more. On Thursday, he joins with seven-piece Cuban band Asere for a concert at the Venue, Leeds College of Music (0113 222 3434), then at J-night Hull on Sunday at the Hull Truck Theatre (01482 323638).

l WAKEFIELD jazz deserves congratulations for its adventurous and energetic promotion of contemporary jazz. Tonight's two band presentation has the Liam Noble Quartet and a trio led by University of York Composer in Residence, Julian Arguelles. This tour has been two years in the planning, dependent on the two American members, Drew Grees (bass) and Tom Rainey (percussion) being available. Phone 01977 680542 for details.

Tonight's attraction at Howden Live is Blue Harlem, their jump blues a great hit at this year's Scarborough Jazz Festival. The hot band is fronted by glamorous and assured young vocalist Imelda May. Howden Live is at The Shire Hall, Market Place (01430 431535).

On Saturday, Jazz In The Spa presents New Orleans Heat, their inspirations being Bunk Johnson, George Lewis and Kid Thomas. The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa, details from 01937 842544.

Energetic pianist Karl Mullen now invites different bands each Sunday night to the Jacobean Lodge, Wigginton. On Sunday, the Leeds-based saxophonist Brendan Duffy brings his Quartet to the Jacobean. Next Sunday, the Richie Binns Quartet, from Hull. Phone 01904 762749 for details.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz welcomes the return of Just East Of Jazz, celebrating Jewish klezmer and Balkan music alongside jazz credentials. Great BBC radio and Jazz FM favourites, learn more from 01723 379818.

EST, the Esbjorn Svensson Trio, is the first European jazz group to make the cover of Downbeat magazine and to have success in the pop charts. "The most exciting act I saw in the past 15 years," said Pat Metheny.

To find a similarly exciting and iconoclastic piano group, compare their new album release, Tuesday Wonderland (ACT Records), to the controversies surrounding Dave Brubeck's pop-tastic sales in the late 1950s.

Fading Maid Preludium opens with a gentle piano pastorale, which suddenly turns into power chords Black Sabbath will envy. The title track is a lively contrapuntal swing workout, which develops into a driving rocker, while The Goldhearted Miner is a ballad delicate enough to please any piano trio fan.

EST is a democratic trio, the lead being shared between piano and bass, with electronically enhanced rhythms alongside the conventional drum kit. Like Dave Brubeck, they combine some of the complexity of classical music with loads of swing, but add a contemporary touch of free jazz and electro rock.

Also like Brubeck, EST will provoke fierce argument, while selling shedloads around the world. This, their tenth album, should do quite nicely, thank you.