TO many people, music is often no more than an accessory to drinking, dancing, dressing up and getting off with people.

Last Sunday the audience at the Victoria Vaults had such nonsense driven from their minds as they were taken by the scruff of their collective neck by the three musicians of the Blue Flies.

A more riveting afternoon it would have been hard to spend as Trevor, Gavin and Miles belted out an exciting programme of good-humoured, high-energy entertainment. How can three musicians produce such a sound? Don't miss the next Blue Flies gig at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, on Sunday (26th) at 2pm.

Talented teenage vocalist Holly Taymar will be at the Golden Lion, Goodramgate tonight. Holly is very much a Jamie Cullum fan and it is remarkable that, despite her youth, she makes such a convincing job of interpreting jazz classics, alongside some special songs written for her by Lisa and Catherine of the Geniecake partnership. Catch her in York while you still can.

One of the father figures of British jazz comes to the Pocklington Arts Centre tomorrow night (25th). Now in his 85th year, Humphrey Lyttelton is still blowing strong and although the membership of his band has changed over the 57 years of its existence, you can bet that Humph always surrounds himself with the best there is. Ex-Yorkie Adrian Macintosh has been Humph's drummer since around 1982, while young saxophonist Karen Sharpe is the latest addition to the band.

Call Pocklington Arts Centre for more details on 01759 301547, you may just be lucky.

The annual high point of Jazz in the Spa will be tomorrow night with the presentation of the Alex Welsh Legacy Band. John Barnes, Jim Douglas and Roy Williams were all members of the original and much-revered Welsh Band, so there are none better to continue the rich tradition. The elements of Louis Armstrong in the playing of trumpeter Enrico Tomasso make him a natural successor to Welsh.

The rhythm section of the Leeds-based Brian Layton Trio must be one of the best in the country, so make an early start for Jazz in the Spa at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa tomorrow night. Details from 01937 842544.

The weekly jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, continue on Sunday night and Wednesday night.

Nina and Karl play Fine And Mellow on Monday night at the Rook and Gaskil, Lawrence Street, York, on Monday night and Jools Slater takes on the guise of Jazzerhead at the Phoenix, George Street, York, on Tuesday night.

Scarborough Jazz at Scholars presents their second guitarist in two weeks, with Sheffield-based James Taylor. It is a first time in Scarborough for James, but he comes with the recommendation that his CD has been played on BBC Radio 2 Jazz Record Requests and Humph's Best Of Jazz programme. Details from 01723 379818.

On Wednesday (29th), Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship moves into swing mode with the East Coast Big Band, a 12-piece led by Mike Smith. Details from Ken Ford on 01482 346239.

York's Deep Blues Club has something of a coup on Thursday (30th) with the legendary harmonica player Mojo Buford, from no less than the Muddy Waters Band. The Deep Blues Club is at the Post Office Club, Marygate (www.deepbluesclub.org.uk).

Updated: 09:24 Friday, June 24, 2005