WAKEFIELD Jazz returns tonight after the Easter break with a typically exciting band.

Roseanna Vitro is an American singer with a long pedigree in the States and nine albums to her name. Having recorded with Fred Hersch and Kenny Barron, her latest CD, Tropical Postcards, features Kenny Werner on piano and the great Joe Lovano on tenor.

Her position as director of jazz vocals at New Jersey City University has restricted most performing opportunities, and this visit to Wakefield is squeezed between performances in New York and the Netherlands. The backing trio is led by Leeds College jazz course graduate pianist Jamil Sheriff. Details of tonight's show from 01977 680542.

York's Martin Boyd has long been a favourite at the Saturday night sessions of Jazz in the Spa and last year he introduced a new band line-up to the long-running Boston Spa organisation. So successful was the debut that the crowd howled for more and the youthful new members of the band will be back again tomorrow night. Martin's long-time drummer, the show-stopping Rod MacNamara, will be joyfully subverting attention from the new kids: Ian Royle (trumpet), Rachel Sowerby (tenor saxophone) and Kevin James (keyboards and vocals). The venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, details from 01937 842544.

Posing a competitive rival attraction tomorrow night will be Howden Live, which will welcome the return of South African singer Esther Miller, described as a cross between Shirley Horn and Annie Ross. Esther's backing band is led by Bridlington-born pianist Gerry Spencer, who started out in the late 1950s with the Dixieland of the Bay City Jazz Band. Details of Howden Live at the Shire Hall from 01430 431535.

Sunday night in York sees the first of the weekly jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, kicking off at 8.30pm. This is one of the weekly gigs where you are likely to see a younger audience, since the free-wheeling and relaxed presentation has been discovered by York's student population. The second Black Swan jam session runs every Wednesday night.

Similarly, Nina and Karl attract a youthful audience when they play Fine and Mellow at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street, York every Monday night.

Still in York, saxophonist Jools Slater has launched a Tuesday jazz joint at the Phoenix pub, George Street, just inside the City Walls. Entry is free and there will be an open mic session from 10-10.30pm. Details from 0776 950 4794.

Scarborough Jazz is another long-running venue, with jazz every Tuesday, while also providing the focus for an annual September jazz festival in the town's Spa Complex. The Scarborough Jazz Festival this year runs from September 23-25 and you can discover more details from the box office on 01723 376774 and www.scarboroughjazzfestival.net Next Tuesday's Scarborough Jazz presentation at Scholars Bar, Bedford Hotel, will be Stony Jazz, which features Rich Adams (vocals/guitar) and Mark Gordon (keyboards/vocals). Details from 01723 379818.

On Wednesday night in York, the second jam session of the week takes place at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green. Jazz at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, York, on Thursday will be by the Don Lodge Band.

Also on Wednesday, Pickering Jazz Club will hold its monthly Trad session at the Beansheaf, with the Delta Jazzband, late of the King Billy Jazz Club at Cottingham. For more details, call Wilson on 01723 859495.

Updated: 16:04 Thursday, April 07, 2005