I WAS privileged to be sharing the dizzying intellectual banter of a group of musicians last week, when one of them queried the origins of the word gig, meaning a playing engagement.

The legendary Trevor King contributed a new version, based on the desirability of a cash payment at the end of the job.

Way back in a forgotten snickelway of time, singers and musicians created their music at no cost to themselves, so if they received a cash payment the musos raised their hands in supplication, crying "God Is Good!" The acronym has become accepted parlance, with even TV and radio comedians being heard to "go on a gig." Any alternative explanations ? Contact this column with your thoughts.

There are two opportunities to hear the wonderful Annie Whitehead Experience this weekend. Tonight (20th) the spirited five-piece swings into Wakefield Jazz and tomorrow the band opens the spring programme for the Shed at Hovingham Village Hall. Annie's trombone is always in demand by such luminaries as Carla Bley, Jazz Jamaica, The Zappatistas, Joan Armatrading and Elvis Costello, but her own Experience is always a great treat. Expect a high energy mix of salsa, reggae, funk and African township jive. Phone Wakefield Jazz on 01924 782339 and the Shed on 01653 668494.

Tomorrow (21st) night presents some frustrating choices. Alongside Annie Whitehead at Hovingham, two more gigs are jostling for attention. Jazz at the Spa will present The Alex Welsh Legacy, featuring Enrico Tomasso, John Barnes and Roy Williams. The new venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa; there is no bar, so you are invited to take along your own bottle of tonic wine. Phone Tim (01937 842544) or Les (01937 842636) for details.

In the latest series of curtain-raisers for the FuseLeeds Festival in March, tomorrow night (21st) Courtney Pine will perform material from his ninth album Devotion at the Venue, Leeds College of Music. Arguably the UK's top jazz instrumentalist, Courtney continues to redefine the genre, with his contemporary sounds and global music mixes.

The final concert in the series will be the Tomasz Stanko Quartet, promoted by Leeds Jazz at the Wardrobe on Wednesday. Tomasz is one of the most charismatic figures in European jazz. His albums recorded for ECM records are consistently acclaimed, usually featuring a strong rhythmic base to his lyrical and dynamic improvisations. Phone 0113 245 5570 for details.

On Tuesday (24th), the guest player at Scarborough Jazz at Scholars will be Steve Whitehead, who plays clarinet, alto and baritone saxophones. Phone 01723 379818 for details.

Although compact discs took some time to penetrate the die-hard vinyl market, DVD seems to have been accepted more readily over video. Accordingly there is an increasing catalogue of jazz on DVD, including a collection Live In Montreal from Universal Jazz. Titles released in January were Charlie Haden and the Liberation Music Orchestra (1992), Dizzy Gillespie (1983), Tito Puente, John Lee Hooker and my personal choice, Carla Bley (1983).

Carla's music is always an uninhibitedly joyful experience and musical whimsy surfaces regularly, most obviously in the Lone Arranger, a loping, organ driven blues. The opener is a concert favourite, The Lord Is Listening To You, led by the high emotional charge of trombonist Gary Valente. Equal to Valente's intensity is Steve Slagle (uncredited on the DVD box) with his extended alto saxophone solo on Heavy Heart.

Her organ and piano playing is often restrained, her compositions and arrangements aiming to showcase the hand-picked talents of the ensemble. Influenced as much by the Beatles as by gospel, her voicings for reeds and brass, organ and piano are instantly recognizable.

The 45-year-old Carla's bright pink hotpants suit made my brother-in-law sit up, even as supersax Joe Lovano launches into a blustering lead-in to Walking Battery Woman. For creativity and energy, this is an essential buy.

Updated: 15:50 Thursday, February 19, 2004