NORTHUMBERLAND-born guitarist Dave Cliff graduated from the Leeds College of Music in 1970 and has become one of the most in-demand players on the national scene.

He has toured with American saxophonists Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh and in the USA with Bob Wilber. During the 1980s, Dave added the bands of Bruce Turner, Alan Barnes, Georgie Fame and Mike Carr to his impressive CV and along the way became a distinguished teacher at Trinity College and the Dankworths' Wavenden Schools.

The guitarist at the Wednesday night jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, Al Morrison, is a pupil of Dave's, so it is with great excitement that the Black Swan will welcome Dave Cliff on Wednesday (5th). The rhythm section of Karl Mullen, Dave Cook and Paul Baxter will be polishing their jazz chops, so spread the word.

Tonight (30th) Wakefield Jazz will continue their adventurous programming with the presentation of the Christian Brewer Quintet. Christian is an alto saxophonist straight out of the bebop tradition and the vibraphone player Jim Hart had a standing ovation from the Wakefield crowd when he last visited. More details from 01924 782339.

Also tonight, the return of the monthly Jazz at the Cairn Hotel, Ripon Road, Harrogate will feature singer Rosie Brown. The session runs from 9pm to midnight, more details from 01423 504005.

Tomorrow night Jazz in the Spa will host Keith Stevens' Gypsy Jazz at the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa.

J Night is the biggest and best promoter of jazz in East Yorkshire and later this month they will add some cherries to the chocolate sundae of jazz activity they have masterminded during recent months. The biggest cherries are Billy Cobham, Courtney Pine and Jessica Williams, all coming to York. Meanwhile they will be pushing the envelope at the Hull Truck Theatre on Sunday with the presentation of the exciting Bollywood Brass Band, Europe's first Indian wedding brass band.

Jazz in York on Sunday (2nd) begins with Joan Whitehead and friends at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, from 3pm to 6pm and continues at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, from around 8.30pm.

Scarborough Jazz at Scholars Bar books a different guest each week. On Tuesday (4th), multi-instrumentalist Mark Hodgkins returns from a busy 15 years in Thailand to join the Mike Gordon Trio.

York vocalist Carol Addy opens up a new venture, also on Tuesday, at the Loch Fyne Restaurant, Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, and the following night, husband John will be at the Old Orleans Bar, Low Ousegate, with Some Like It Hot. John's residency at the Old Orleans is now in its tenth year, so expect some birthday celebrations later in the year.

Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship Inn, Cottingham Road, presents the Scottish Guitar Quartet on Wednesday, playing an eclectic mixture of jazz and world music.

Will Downing's new album, Emotions (GRP) is a smoothie, in true GRP house style. Sumptuous strings and synthesisers cushion a succession of love songs, with the velvety voice living up to the album title. The songs are boudoir pieces - Falling In Love, Rhythms Of You & Me, and the soul samba Beautiful To Me and at times the emotional Mr Downing sounds to be close to sexual congress.

Guest soloists make short appearances, with alto saxophonist Gerald Albright on Aretha Franklin's Daydreaming and tenor saxophonist Kirk Whalum on Eddie Holman's 60s falsetto classic Hey There Lonely Girl.

Jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton plays a tasteful muted solo on the album's closing track, Janet Jackson's Anything. The press release describes Downing "caressing, massaging and goosing every syllable". This is one for the girls - prepare to be goosed.

Updated: 16:28 Thursday, April 29, 2004