THE weatherpersons promise that this weekend's Scarborough Jazz Festival will enjoy sunshine to further illuminate the bright stars.

The festival kicks off at 5pm today (19th) with the Pat McCarthy Band, followed by Julian Joseph, Clare Teal and Dave O'Higgins with the JazzCotech Dancers. On Saturday and Sunday there is music all day from 12.30pm through until 11.45pm, and among the many attractions you will find Snake Davis, Alan Barnes, Alex Wilson, Claire Martin & Ian Shaw. There is still time to buy a weekend ticket for £52. Call 01723 376774/357869.

Congratulations to Jonathan Newdick, winner of last week's competition, who will be enjoying all of the above, courtesy of those nice Scarborough Jazz Festival people.

Tonight, Wakefield Jazz presents Sax Appeal, a long-established octet which features five saxophones, led by Derek Nash. Details on 01924 782339.

Jazz at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate, provides a third tempting choice tonight, with a quintet led by vocalist Emma Nabarro. Call 01423 504005 for more details.

Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, tomorrow night presents the Dave Donohoe Jazz Band, playing New Orleans music with the added spark provided by ace reedsman Frank Brooker. Details from 01937 842544.

Also tomorrow night, Danny Moss and Roy Williams, who draw rave revues and full houses around the world, come to the Shire Hall, Howden. Details on 01430 431535/431488.

Sunday nights in York, the jazz spot not to be missed is the Black Swan, Peasholme Green. It is popular with students, not least because the players are nearer to their age group than the usual run of wrinklies.

On Monday nights the Fine and Mellow sounds are provided by Nina and Karl at York's newest boozer, the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street.

After this weekend's festival, Scarborough Jazz keeps the impetus going on Tuesday at Scholars Bar with Australian-born vocalist Anita Wardell. Call for more details on 01723 379818.

A gig a day keeps the blues away and Wednesday's treat is Dave O'Higgins with Urban Connection at the Leeds College of Music. Call 0113 222 3434.

Re-issuing records from the past is hardly new, since it began in the 1930s, but still has elements of controversy - do they distract buyers from up-and-coming artists? Any thoughts to Jazz Notes. While the jury is out, here are two compilations from the Verve Finest Hour series by singers from opposite ends of the jazz spectrum.

The vocal mannerisms of Fred Astaire and Betty Carter send some listeners screaming for the OFF button, but I love Fred's urbane, rhythmic articulation as much as Betty's deconstructive/creative approach.

Twelve of the 17 tracks on Fred Astaire's Finest Hour come from a classic Columbia Clef 3CD set, The Astaire Story. This 1952 session has the immaculate Oscar Peterson Trio backing, with Charlie Shavers, Flip Phillips and Barney Kessel adding their instrumental voices to such prime Astaire tracks as Cheek To Cheek, No Strings, The Continental and Fascinating Rhythm.

Betty Carter's Finest Hour begins with some 1958 recordings and fairly straight readings of the songs. She was initially considered to be too "far out", twisting melodies and lyrics of familiar tunes such as The Trolley Song and I Could Write A Book into unexpected variations. By 1970 she had started her own Bet-Car label and the public had begun to catch up. File under essential listening.

Updated: 09:04 Friday, September 19, 2003