I DON'T know whether singer Jo Swiss will don the yellow tracksuit, but she is heading for a Challenge Anneka sprint on Sunday (11th) for two gigs at two venues, with two bands.

Jo recently took over from Joan Whitehead at the Sunday afternoon session at Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, York, which runs from 3pm to 6pm. At 7pm she is due at the Three Legged Mare in Petergate to soundcheck with her band Square. She will just have time to change out of her running shoes before the gig begins at 8pm.

Since her previous incarnation, touring the world with a rock band, Jo has carved an impressive new niche singing the great American songbook with local jazz groups. Dare I say it, Ms Swiss is on quite a roll.

Karl Mullen is one of York's busiest pianists. He takes his trio to the Harrogate Brasserie tonight (9th) and on Monday night (12th) he and partner Nina will play Fine And Mellow at the Rook And Gaskill, Lawrence Street, York. On Wednesday he is transformed into one of the Jam Tarts at the Black Swan Jam session, while on Thursday he has a hand in running Jazz In The Sticks with Jools Slater at the Farmer's Inn Brafferton Helperby.

Boston Spa's Jazz In The Spa will be missing a session tomorrow night (10th) because the venue of the Trustees Hall is not available. However, a date for your diary will be Saturday, August 7, when the club steps out of its usual trad boots to present Alan Barnes playing with the Brian Layton Trio. Details from 01937 842544.

The Sunday night jam session at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, will run from around 8.30pm, with anyone welcome to drop in and exercise their talents high on the open mike. Scarborough Jazz is also running a players night on Tuesday at Scholars Bar, with saxophonist Steve Whitehead and vocalist Alison Young on hand to fill in the spaces.

Hulljazz will present the Blue Note Project on Wednesday. The six-piece was inspired by the famous record label and it specializes in playing the Art Blakey book.

Updated: 08:25 Friday, July 09, 2004