Local jazz promoters and musicians of all ages will be interested to hear that the new JazzYorkshire organization will be running a series of free seminars to consult with the local jazz community.

The agency is committed to celebrating this thriving area of the regional music scene and to putting the diversity of Yorkshire jazz on the map.

Whether you are a promoter, musician or just a jazz fan, go along and air your views at the Venue, Leeds College of Music on Thursday, November 18. The seminar will run from 2-5pm and to register for your free place, call Kate Burroughs on 0870 242 7760 or email info@jazzyorkshire.org

Meanwhile, the next high profile presentation at the Venue will be Stan Sulzman's New York quartet, playing selections from his new album The Jigsaw on Wednesday, November 10, at 7.30pm. Marc Copland is the American pianist and Drew Gress is noted as a world-class double bass player. Box office details are on 0113 222 3434.

In addition to Stan Sulzman on Wednesday, the living legend Sam Rivers will be at the Wardrobe on Tuesday, November 9. This Contemporary Music Network tour will include his working US Trio and the 13-piece Rivbea Orchestra, specially recruited from the top young British players.

Leeds Jazz is rightly proud to present such an influential figure, who has played with Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Andrew Hill and McCoy Tyner, amongst many more. Details from Leeds Jazz on 0113 269 4077 and www.leeds.ac.uk/music/leedsjazz

The big name roll-call continues tonight, as Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble comes to Wakefield Jazz on an extensive British tour. The seven-piece band will be playing selections from their latest CD, Musik - Rearranging the 20th Century (Enja). More details on 01977 680542.

Jazz in the Spa presents Trad with the Dave Donohoe Jazz Band tomorrow night (6th) at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa. Details on 01937 842544.

On Sunday night (7th) in York the celebrated jam session will be drawing the crowds to the Black Swan, Peasholme Green.

On Monday night (8th) Karl and Nina will be playing Fine and Mellow at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street.

International guitar star John Etheridge will be bringing his Northern Trio to Scarborough Jazz at Scholars Bar (01723 379818) on Tuesday, November 9, and on Wednesday to Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship Inn (01482 492868).

Next Friday, November 12, at Wakefield Jazz he adds fiery tenor saxophonist Ed Jones to the Trio (01977 680542).

The German MPS record company has been described as "one of the biggest and most varied jazz catalogues in Europe".

Alongside European artists, Americans such as Oscar Peterson and Art Farmer recorded in the MPS Black Forest studios.

George Duke started his career there and the label boasted the glorious Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band.

Two new CDs from Universal make fascinating listening. The first is Jazzworks, 14 original MPS tracks from 1964-1978; and the second JazzReworks, the same tracks remixed by various eminent club mixers.

I have to admit that not being a club dancefloor freak, none are known to me, but the treatments are sometimes very exciting and refreshing.

Remixing sometimes sounds like twiddling the radio tuner rapidly through different stations. I was curious to hear how the Clarke/Boland Big Band would work, with its staggering personnel - Johnny Griffin, Tony Coe and Ronnie Scott are in the saxophone section alone.

There is a bit of tuner twiddle about it, but it does develop into quite an exciting sound collage on Gary McFarland's Um Grao De Areia.

George Duke's Theme From The Opera 'Tzina' is remixed into an eventual trance-like repeat loop. The hippie vocal and sitar of Take Off Your Clothes To Feel The Setting Sun (not to be played within earshot of the obese) has a welcome update with an injection of modern rhythm and judiciously sampled repeats.

Younger jazz audiences and open-minded wrinklies will welcome the intriguing comparison of these two CDs.

Updated: 15:57 Thursday, November 04, 2004