THE highest profile gigs next week are both at the Leeds Wardrobe.

Leeds Jazz kicks off at the Wardrobe on Monday (27th) with the Charlie Hunter Trio from the USA, which features the iconoclastic saxophonist Greg Osby and the equally exciting drummer Bobby Previte. Hunter's one-of-a-kind eight string sound and Previte's electronic drums have been featured extensively at New York's Knitting Factory venue, so expect ground-breaking stuff. Details from 0113 269 4077.

The second big one at the Wardrobe comes the following night, on Tuesday, with the Contemporary Music Network tour, a Snapshot From Paris. This is an adventurous new multi-cultural ensemble, featuring British saxophonist Julian Arguelles and brother Steve with French and African singers and musicians. There is a new CD of Snapshot on the Plush Records website www.plush-internet.org and the Leeds information number is 0113 222 3434.

For the less adventurous, the big gig will be tonight in Harrogate, when trombonist Roy Williams comes to Jazz at the Majestic Hotel. Roy will guest with the Grant Spencer Trio, which features top local players Ken Marley (bass) and John Perry (drums). Details from 01423 504005.

One of the great hits of the Scarborough Jazz festival, Dave O'Higgins, is back in our region tonight at Wakefield Jazz. Seen at Scarborough with the JazzCotech Dancers and Urban Connesction, he comes to Wakefield with his sextet, featuring Mike Outram on guitar. Details from 01924 782339.

Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, tomorrow night presents the Harmony Hounds, playing vintage tunes from the 1920s and 1930s. Details from 01937 842544.

Jazz Services is a funding body backed by the Arts Council aimed at developing new talent as well as supporting existing artists. The tour of a new young singer Sue McCreeth comes to Scarborough on Tuesday and Hulljazz on Wednesday courtesy of Jazz Services. Dave Gelly of The Observer said Sue has "a cool, misty kind of voice... outstanding". Her trio is also outstanding, including as it does the rising stars Mike Gorman (piano), Zoltan Dekany (bass) and Matt Home (drums). Call Scarborough Jazz on 01723 379818 and Hulljazz on 01482 492868.

The autumn concert season of Leeds College of Music continues on Thursday with the jazz-tinged, Tex-Mex band Los Pacaminos, featuring the soulful voice of Paul Young. At the recent Hull Jazz Festival, tickets for Los Pacaminos sold out with the speed of a tequila slammer, so phone 0113 2223434 soon.

Tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker has won nine Grammy Awards and has appeared on more than 800 jazz, pop and rock albums during his 34-year career, so the appearance of a new album is always exciting. The Michael Brecker Quindectet, Wide Angles (Verve), is a ten-part suite of compositions arranged by Gil Goldstein for 15 players, hence the unusual name for an unusual ensemble. The Quindectet marries a chamber orchestra of horns, woodwinds and strings with a rhythm section of guitar, bass, drums and percussion.

From the opening track, Broadband, Brecker sets out the territory ahead with a solo of high drama over rich ensemble backing. Cool Day In Hell continues to a barely-controlled mayhem of a climax, while Angle Of Repose is a ballad, set against string quartet and rhythm with spaced guitar chords.

By track five, Night Jessamine, Brecker has progressed to funky drums and bass, with the rhythmic horn lines giving a nod to the exhilarating P-Funk grooves of Parliament. In track six, Scylla, Goldstein borrows some voicings from Gil Evans, then builds to a crescendo reminiscent of the Beatles Day In The Life, before subsiding back to a luxurious calm.

Wide Angles is a thrilling exploration of the contrasts between restrained chamber music and the Afro-American origins of jazz. This is music seriously conceived, but which exercises a daringly playful spirit as Brecker pushes himself to the limits of his astounding technique. However, don't expect to sing along, just sit back and marvel at the breathtaking Brecker music machine.

Updated: 09:53 Friday, October 24, 2003