Wakefield Jazz continues to astound with the range of the bands at the Sports Club venue and you are advised to book quickly for the ticket-only presentation on Friday December 10. The Nono Nonet was the suggestion of club organizer Alec Sykes, to celebrate the club's 10th anniversary in 1997.

The nine-piece is drawn from the top-most drawer of British jazz talent - Guy Barker, Don Weller, David Newton, Mark Nightingale and vocalist Liz Fletcher in the front line. The rhythm section will be Clark Tracey and Alec Dankworth and the band will be directed by Alan Barnes.

Tickets are £12.50 in advance from the club or by post from Judith Waterhouse, 3 Bramley Park, Church Lane, Bramley, Rotherham S66 0RW.

Tonight (29th) at Wakefield Jazz, the Matt Wates Sextet will be playing selections from Matt's six albums and some American songbook classics. Call 01977 680542 for more details.

Tomorrow night (30th), Jazz in the Spa presents two top reed players, Dave Mott and Jimmy Thomson with one of the best rhythm sections around, the Brian Layton Trio. Details from 01937 842544.

Also tomorrow night there will be a jazz duo at York's newest restaurant, Anastasia's, High Ousegate. Drop in for an earful and let me know who they are.

Jazz choices in York on Sunday night are the Black Swan jam session, Peasholme Green, and the Three-Legged Mare, Petergate, which will be hosting a Hallowe'en special with the Modest Jazz Quartet from 8pm. Their musical tastes are far-ranging, advertised as being 'from blues to bebop and from bossa nova to bar billiards'. You can bet that someone will ask them for Fly Me To The Moon, but this musical coven would prefer Wayne Shorter's Witch Hunt.

On Monday, Nina and Karl play Fine and Mellow vocals and piano at the Rook And Gaskill, Lawrence Street, York.

Tuesday (2nd) is Scarborough Jazz night and the guest next week is that rare creature, a vibraphone virtuoso. It will be worth a visit just to behold the formidable vibraphone itself, but Baz Hewland will have you alternately swinging and swooning with his magic touch. More details on Scarborough Jazz from 01723 379818.

The big choice on Wednesday (3rd) hinges upon two New Yorkers who will be appearing seperately in York and Leeds and a free-blowing open house at Hulljazz.

The sublime Stacey Kent will be at York's Theatre Royal on Wednesday, with her wonderful musicians, which will hopefully mean a second chance to hear David Newton at the piano.

Stacey is a native New Yorker, now resident in England and married to Brit saxophonist and band-mate Jim Tomlinson. She has five best-selling albums in the shops and most recently won the BBC British Jazz Awards for Best Vocalist.

Stacey has just returned from New York's Carnegie Hall and her current album, The Boy Next Door, has been in the Billboard Charts for more than 40 weeks. Book your ticket now on 01904 623568.

The Leeds alternative is different, but equally exciting. Leeds Jazz at the Wardrobe pushes the boundaries once more with maverick NY guitarist Marc Ribot.

Mr Ribot has played with the bands of Chuck Berry, Rufus Thomas, Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. Avoid this one if you don't like musical surprises, particularly when the support band is the Distortion Trio, led by young keyboards whiz Matthew Bourne.

To support the younger end of jazz and to sample what is happening in jazz now, strap on the crash helmet and be prepared for some excessive boogie. It could change your life.

Followers of York keyboards whiz Bob Smeaton will be heading for Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship Inn, Cottingham Road.

This will be an open players night for sitters-in, but the house band will be Bob's cunningly titled Be-Bob.org organ quintet. Conan the Librarian lives.

Updated: 15:57 Thursday, October 28, 2004