ALTHOUGH he died last year, Alf Peacock - former magistrate, social historian, champion of learning and avid jazz fan - is still supporting live jazz in York. The trustees of York Settlement Trust, of which Alf had been secretary until his death in 2004, agreed to make money available for the Alf Peacock Memorial Concert.

The first memorial concert will be on Friday July 29, the opening concert of the Dune Jazz festival at York Theatre Royal. A Tribute to Billie Holiday will feature Dune Records recording stars Zara McFarlane, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Abram Wilson, Andrew McCormack, Gary Crosby and Rod Youngs.

Melvyn Walker, one of the Settlement trustees, said: "Alf was passionate about jazz and education for everyone, as well as real ale. He would have been delighted that his name is associated with the festival, especially as it will feature the artists delivering workshops on Saturday for local musicians. Perhaps the audience will raise a glass to Alf in the interval."

I'll drink to that, Melvyn.

Other concerts in the festival at York Theatre Royal feature the Soweto Kinch Band on July 30 at 5.30pm and headliners Jazz Jamaica with Motown Re-loaded at 8.30pm on the same night. Booking is available for the three events and a season ticket is available. Telephone 01904 623568 or visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

York Dune Jazz Festival is supported by Arts Council England, City of York Council, York at Large, the Urban Cultural Programme and the Alf Peacock Memorial fund.

It is hoped that the festival will become a regular feature of summer in York and the organisers are seeking to involve local people through workshops, education projects and foyer concerts.

British jazz pioneer and author Neil Ardley will be the focus of another memorial event in London. On Tuesday July 26, a Memorial Service will be held at St Paul's Church (the actors' church), Bedford Street, Covent Garden at midday. Neil Ardley died on in February 2004, aged 66, and the service will include live performances from his acclaimed albums Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows and Symphony Of Amaranths. Performers will include Barbara Thompson, Michael Garrick and Norma Winstone and Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows was re-released on 21 March on Dusk Fire Records.

On the local scene, Jazz in the Spa tomorrow night, will present Trad with Mart Rogers Manchester Jazz. The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa, details from 01937 842544.

Dylan Howe has become one of the best drummers in Britain and his recent CD This Is It has received rave reviews. By all accounts this young band excels in classic hard bop and there will be two chances to hear them in our region next week. On Tuesday they will whiz through the crotchets at Scarborough Jazz (01723 379818) and on Wednesday they arrive, lip in hand, at Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship, Cottingham Road, Hull (01482 346239).

Good news for Trad fans, and for Ryedale tourism, is that the brochure is now out for the 18th Pickering Jazz Festival, which runs from July 24-30. It may come as a surprise that most of the audience members for the festival come from well outside the region, as founder of the festival Joe Passey will confirm. Octogenarian Joe's happy relationship with his Dutch lady friend Martha came about via visitors from the Netherlands to the festival some years ago.

Book for the Pickering Jazz festival on 01347 878642.

Updated: 09:16 Friday, July 15, 2005