THE Scarborough Jazz Festival, due to run from September 19-21, was officially launched on Wednesday, April 16.

The invited audience of musicians and jazz club organizers enjoyed a glass of wine and a short address from the Town's Mayor, Sheila Kettlewell at the Town Hall. Mike Gordon of Scarborough Jazz, who is also part of Profile International, which is organising the festival, outlined some of the stars already confirmed.

"We have secured an exciting mix for the festival," said Mike. "Alex Wilson R&B Latino, Dave O'Higgins and the Jazz Cotech Dancers, Claire Martin, Ian Shaw, David Newton, Snake Davis, to name a few, and a couple of our regular favourites at Scarborough Jazz, Pat McCarthy and Julie Edwards."

After the short launch ceremony, the entire gathering moved across the road to the Royal Hotel for a taster of the Festival with the Julie Edwards Quintet.

The weekly Scarborough Jazz at Scholars sessions continue on Tuesday with the stylish Edinburgh-based singer Freddie King. Freddie has appeared at Ronnie Scott's, The Vortex and the 606 Club and he is influenced by Jon Hendrix, Al Jarreau and Betty Carter. Call 01723 379818 for more details.

Mike Gordon and his wife Marian have established Scarborough Jazz as one of the longest-running and most successful in the region and their promotional partnership is paralleled by that of Alec and Faith Sykes, who run Wakefield Jazz every Friday night. You will be interested to read the profile on Alec in this month's Artscene, the Arts Council Yorkshire publication, and applaud the louder at Wakefield's presentation tonight of the Tina May Band. And what a band - Nikki Iles, Alan Barnes, Tristram Maillot and Alec Dankworth join Miss May, who somehow finds the time between international tours to be Professor of Jazz Voice at Trinity College. Details of Wakefield Jazz from on 01924 782339.

Tomorrow night, Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, hosts another session from local favourite Frank Brooker, who together with Teddy Fullick becomes the Brooker/Fullick Jazz Nuts. Details from 01937 842544.

The jam sessions at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, are an essential part of the York jazz scene. Enjoy the exhilaration of such youthful players as Chantal and James Lancaster, Karl Mullen, Al Morrison and Paul Baxter on Wednesday and Sunday nights at the Black Swan; enjoy the no less exhilarating sounds of the more (ahem) mature Mardi Gras Band at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate on Thursday.

South of York, also on Thirds, Dennis Rollins Badbone & Co will play at the Earl of Doncaster, in Doncaster, to launch their new CD, Make Your Move. Details from 01302 320002.

The cover of the new CD from pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias, Kissed By Nature (RCA/Bluebird), goes a long way down Diana Krall Lane, with fashion-shoot photos of Miss Elias in glamorous dresses with a suggestion of dcollet here and there. The production also matches La Krall, the poised, flowing affair we expect from a Latin-tinged jazz trio.

Almost entirely Elias originals, nevertheless the melodies Luar, Where Did You Go and Balanc fall under her fingers with the familiarity of tasty standards. Two bonus tracks, remixed by Brazilian DJ team BossaCucaNova, will have you bounding out of your seat.

High energy is one way of describing These Are The Vistas (Sony Jazz), a new CD by The Bad Plus, also a piano trio, but not as we know it, Jim. This state-of-the-art jazz also draws inspiration from dance, pop and rock.

This is witty and deadly serious by turns, a group ethic of dynamic contrasts, from minimalist whispers to barely-controlled mayhem. Nirvana may have difficulty in recognizing The Bad Plus treatment of Smells Like Teen Spirit, which builds from a funereal intro into a two-fisted, joyfully discordant three-way joust.

Updated: 09:45 Friday, April 11, 2003