International saxophone star Julian Arguelles brings his full octet to the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, tonight (19th) (7.30pm).

This will be the octet's second year as the university's ensemble-in-residence and it features the cream of young British jazz musicians.

Their first album was Jazz CD of the Year in the Independent On Sunday and you will discover why tonight. More details from the box office on 01904 432439.

The rival attraction at Wakefield Jazz is the Damon Brown Quartet, featuring US guitarist Doug Raney. The band comes direct from the London Jazz Festival and a BBC Radio 3 broadcast. Details on 01977 680542.

Another rival attraction tonight is Free Spirits, a newly-formed five-piece which brings together musicians from jazz, rock and classical Indian music. Tonight's concert is in the Leeds College of Music Recital room at 7.30pm, more details on 0113 222 3434.

The London Jazz Festival winds up this weekend with Carla Bley, David Murray and Jan Garbarek, more details on 020 7377 2831. There will be more broadcasts from the Festival on BBC Radio 3 today and in coming weeks, but there is a rare opportunity to catch the David Murray Creole Project live on Sunday, November 21, at the Venue, Leeds College of Music at 7.30pm.

Two masters of gwo ka music from Guadaloupe will join Murray's fiery New York Band, which includes trumpeter Rasul Siddik and drummer Pheeron Aklaaf. Check for ticket availability on 0113 222 3434.

The big draw tomorrow night (20th) will be South African vocalist Esther Miller at Jazz in the Spa, Boston Spa. The backing band is pretty special too, a quartet led by young tenor saxophonist Karen Sharp. Call 01937 842544 for more details.

Saxophonist Rod Mason (tenor, alto, soprano) creates great excitement with the three-saxophone line-up of the Heavy Horns, but on Tuesday, November 23, he comes as a soloist to Scarborough Jazz. More details on 01723 379818.

David 'Fuse' Fiuczynski is a prolific jazz/rock guitarist and his Screaming Headless Torsos band has been chosen by Musician magazine as one of its top ten bands. The Torsos have played the London Jazz Festival and on Thursday the band completes its only two British gigs at the Leeds Wardrobe at 8.30pm. The following Wednesday, 1 December, The Wardrobe will host a second iconoclastic US band, the Bad Plus.

Although they draw inspiration from the worlds of dance and pop, forget any thoughts about 'fusion', as 1970s jazz/rock was known. The Bad Plus are a piano trio, but not as we know it, Jim. As well as all three contributing original compositions, their aim is to deconstruct and re-build classic pop songs, as they did on their first album, These Are The Vistas.

On their second album for Columbia, Give, they work similar magic with Velouria (The Pixies), Iron Man (Black Sabbath) and Ornette Coleman's Street Woman. For more information go to thebadplus.com and for Leeds Jazz at the Wardrobe call 0113 2694077.

Talk piano trios and most agree that Bill Evans was the man that pushed the lyrical envelope. Tender, poetic, passionate, that was Bill. Plus, he could swing.

A new compilation, Bill Evans For Lovers (Verve) is a demonstration of his considerable powers. Spring Is Here (Rodgers & Hart) and My Foolish Heart (Young /Washington) are from his acclaimed live recording Bill Evans At Town Hall and feature Chuck Israels on bass. Israels also appears alongside drummer Larry Bunker on Tad Dameron's If You Could See Me Now, from the Trio '65 album.

As with many compilations, existing collectors may be frustrated by the selections from albums they may already have. However, for anyone else, this is an essential introduction to the genius of soul-searching piano for anyone else.

Updated: 09:05 Friday, November 19, 2004