BRUCE Adams is one of Britain's top trumpeters, a winner of the British Jazz Award and often heard partnering saxophonist Alan Barnes.

Next week there will be three opportunities to hear Bruce touring the region partnered by York's own Kid Boyd Band.

The Boyd band will play the eclectic and exciting programme which has become their trademark in recent years and Bruce Adams will join them to explore his own favourites, which range from Bunny Berigan to Bebop. The Adams/Boyd package will steam into Scarborough Jazz at Scholars (01723 379818) on Tuesday (23rd) and on Wednesday (24th) they visit Hulljazz at the Goodfellowship Inn, Cottingham Road, Hull (01482 492868).

When not flying high on an open mike with Kid Boyd, super trumpet man James Lancaster has the Clark Kent persona of head of music at Ripon Grammar School and he has booked the Adams-Boyd package into the school on Friday. After workshops for pupils during the day, they will round off with a concert at 7.30pm.

The concert will also be showcasing the two big bands which James pilots at Ripon Grammar. TWO big bands ? "The junior band serves as training for younger players to get used to the tunes," said James. For information on the Ripon concert (£5/£3) call 01765 602647.

Tonight's (19th) band at Wakefield Jazz shows every sign of becoming a British headliner. Three years after leaving the Leeds College of Music, Jamil Sheriff was commissioned to compose and arrange a collection of pieces for eight musicians and this is what you will hear tonight. "The roots of the Octet's sound remind me of Horace Silver, with a flavouring of Wayne Shorter," said Wakefield Jazz organiser Alec Sykes. Jamil's octet tour last year and his CD Daydreams received enthusiastic reviews. The band includes Young Jazz Musician Of The Year Andrew Colman (trumpet), Pat McCarthy (guitar) and the twin tenors of Joel Purnell and Ben Martin (01924 782339).

Jazz at the Spa presents the Tees Valley Jazzmen tomorrow night (20th) at the Trustees Hall, Boston Spa. There is no bar at this unlicensed venue, so you are invited to take your own drinks. More details from 01937 842544/842636.

Choice music to take you right through Sunday in York can be found at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane from 3pm to 6pm, followed by the celebrated jam session at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green from 8.30pm.

The invention of the long-playing vinyl record in 1948 liberated composers from the three-minute confines of 78 rpm recordings. Edward Kennedy Ellington at last was able to record extended performances by his orchestra as they were played in concert.

Masterpieces By Ellington (Columbia/Legacy) is a sparkling CD re-issue of a December 1950 session, which revisits some of his best-known compositions in extended form. Mood Indigo (from 1931) is extended to more than 15 minutes and Sophisticated Lady (1933) and Solitude (1934) both stretch beyond 11 minutes. All are enhanced by the Duke's restless rewriting of his classic compositions. The final piece from the original LP, The Tattooed Bride, is a showcase for reedsman Jimmy Hamilton and his clarinet.

Part of the Ellington magic was the spontaneous jazz feel, even on pieces when most of the music was written, rather than improvised.

Much of this spontaneity came from the fierce individuality of his musicians, who gave the Ellington ensembles an instantly recognisable sound.

Sony Jazz celebrates the 30th anniversary of Duke Ellington's death (May 24, 1974) with a trio of classic albums. Alongside Masterpieces are Ellington's Festival Session of 1959 and Ellington Uptown from 1951-52.

Updated: 08:46 Friday, March 19, 2004