WAKEFIELD Jazz has a unique special presentation tonight (4th) with a band put together by up-and-coming young pianist Jonathan Gee, co-led by tenor saxophonist Tim Whitehead.

Australian Carl Orr is the regular guitarist with the Billy Cobham Band, endorsement enough for his ability to share the stage with Gee and Whitehead. Details from 01924 782339.

In a second gig to feature young players, tomorrow night (5th) Jazz in the Spa breaks out of its usual Trad mode to present Rob Lavers, Adrian Moorhouse and friends.

Rob paid his saxophone dues playing in the pubs and restaurants of York before moving to London, so it will be a welcome chance to see how he is progressing. The Boston Spa jazz venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street; more details from 01937 842544.

Carol Addy will be swinging down Nunnery Lane on Sunday (6th), at the Victoria Vaults from 3pm to 6pm, with songs from the great American song book.

Later that same day, the celebrated Sunday night jam session will run from 8.30pm at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green.

Nina and Karl play Fine and Mellow at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street on Monday night (7th).

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz welcomes guitarist Jim Birkett to join the resident Mike Gordon Trio. Details from 01723 379818.

There is a difficult choice of two tenor saxophone attractions on Wednesday. Firstly, Hulljazz presents the Jon Taylor Quartet at the Goodfellowship Inn, Cottingham Road (details from 01482 492868).

Your second option is Julian Arguelles at Leeds Jazz at the Wardrobe. Arguelles has worked with international musicians such as Carla Bley, Dave Holland, John Scofield and Django Bates. On Wednesday he brings with him two American friends, Drew Grass (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). More details from 0113 274 2486.

"I completely loath world music on BBC Radio 3, and jazz." So said Janet Street Porter on Radio 3's Private Passions last week. I agree that certain avenues of jazz are like a library that never gets any new books. On the other hand, Ms JSP is forgetting Whitney Balliett's definition of jazz as "the sound of surprise".

Django Bates has never ceased to surprise since founding his ground-breaking Loose Tubes big band and he straddles the world of jazz and the concert hall. His new CD, You Live And Learn... (Apparently) on the Lost Marble label is a ride through typically unpredictable Bates territory, thrilling and surprising by turns.

He is wonderfully served by the musicians in his long-term Human Chain group, Ian Ballamy, Michael Mondesir and Martin France, plus a new young Swedish vocalist Josefine Lindstrand. Also on his dream team are the Smith String Quartet, Chris Batchelor and guests Jim Mullen, David Sanborn and Nikki Yeoh.

Django's highly original compositions show influences from the jazz voicings of Ellington, Hermeto Pascoal and Jaco Pastorius, as well as the Charles Ives device of having two opposing themes working simultaneously. The device enlivens some surprising choices of non-Django compositions, such as Paul Anka's My Way, Bowie's Life On Mars and, particularly successful, Gilbert O'Sullivan's Alone Again, Naturally.

Django's own Interval Song has a lilting Latin American rhythm, to which a children's choir simply sings the musical intervals between the notes of the charming melody - "This is a major 7th, This is a minor 7th, And this is an octave". Ingenious! Because of its lively eclecticism it is possible that this album will infuriate as many as it fascinates - I loved it.

With reference to Janet Street Porter, listen to Frank Zappa, Jazz From Hell (BBC Radio 3, Saturday 6pm). Zappa also claimed not to like jazz, but used jazz players in his bands because they were the only ones who could play his complex music.

Updated: 08:44 Friday, June 04, 2004