IF YOU missed the powerhouse Alan Skidmore and Ubizo in Leeds last night, there is another chance to catch them on November 7 at Darlington Arts Centre.

The Skidmore quintet and the five South African members of Ubizo are touring to celebrate the release of their new album, the second collaboration after their 1999 album, The Call.

"As the first British jazz musician to visit South Africa after the abolition of apartheid, I was in a privileged position," said Skidmore. "After years of segregation I was free to explore jazz with the people whose traditions are at the roots of jazz. Ubizo is the result of that exploration, a very natural music, demonstrating a communication and understanding that crosses cultural and political divides."

Ubizo is on Provocateur Records and you can find more details of the tour on 01227 711008.

John Etheridge has become a regular visitor to the North and is a great favourite with Harrogate audiences, where he appears tonight at the Cairn Hotel with local stars Ben Crosland (bass) and Dave Tyas (drums). He came to jazz via various rock groups, and, intriguingly, played with two very different high profile bands during the late 1970s.

He worked with the electric jazz group Soft Machine from 1975 to 1981 and almost simultaneously with Stephane Grappelli from 1976 to 1981. Since that time, he has continued to show his open-mindedness by playing with such diverse partners as Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Kessel and Nigel Kennedy.

Tonight's gig in Harrogate will allow him to stretch out in the intimate trio format and there are more details at 01423 504005.

John Etheridge continues his short Northern tour at Scarborough Jazz @ Scholars on Tuesday (details from 01723 379818) and Hulljazz on Wednesday (01482 492868).

Wakefield Jazz also runs on Friday nights and tonight trumpeter Damon Brown brings his Quintet to the Sports Club venue, which features Sebastiaan de Krom (drums) and Ed Jones (tenor sax). Jones is one of Britain's hidden treasures, often poached by the Blue Note hip hop crew US3 and funksters Incognito, all of which seems to make him relish jazz club appearances all the more. More details on 01924 782339.

Tim Mallinson and Les Brown have run Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, for 16 years but due to the redevelopment of the hotel they have been forced to look for a new venue. There is no news so far on their search, but there are a couple more dates for November. Tomorrow night the Tees Valley Jazzmen fly the Trad flag at the Crown, details from Tim (01937 84254) or Les (01937 842636).

Sunday continues to be wall-to-wall jazz day in York. Tim New and Friends play for Sunday lunch at the York Hilton, while Carol Addy and Friends will be swinging down Nunnery Lane from 1.30-6pm at the Victoria Vaults.

The Sunday night jam session then runs from around 8.30pm through to closing time at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green.

Nina and Karl play Fine and Mellow vocals and piano at the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street on Monday night.

New just in: York-based Andy Hillier's Imperial Young Gentleman's Dance Orchstra have a special guest, international trombonist Roy Williams, at the Leeds Wardrobe on Tuesday.

The Leeds College of Music Autumn Concert season welcomes American guitarist Rick Zunigar's Trio on Wednesday in the Recital Room. The name may be unfamiliar, but Zunigar features on records by Roberta Flack, Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, to name a few. Call the LCM Box Office on 0113 222 3434.

The new season of Leeds Jazz continues on Thursday with Joel Harrison's Free Country at the Atrium, Grand Arcade, Leeds. American guitarist/composer/vocalist Harrison has twice won the Jazz Composer's Alliance Jazz Composition Competition and is equally at home playing African, Indian, contemporary classical and roots music. More details on the Free Country Quartet and Leeds Jazz from 0113 269 4077 and www.leeds.ac.uk/music/leedsjazz

Updated: 10:00 Friday, November 07, 2003