If you missed the stunning Kenny Drew Jr Trio at York's National Centre for Early Music, you may be lucky enough to catch them at Wakefield Jazz on March 14.

Call 01924 782339 and try your luck.

The long-established jazz course at the Leeds College of Music (LCM) has produced many of the leading players on the British jazz scene and we hear them in our region fairly regularly. Alan Barnes, David Newton and Enrico Tomasso are frequent visitors. Enrico has a full-page feature in this month's Jazz UK magazine and Alan Barnes will be touring the region with Kid Boyd's Band (of which, more later), while David Newton recently played two sell-out gigs at the Shire Hall, Howden.

The college's jazz graduates keep on coming and three are featured in the LCM bar tonight at 7.30pm, promoting their debut album, 4:6:6. Saxophone player and college alumnus Joel Purnell formed his Quartet in 2001, drafting in fellow ex-students Tom Mark (bass) and Jami Sheriff (piano) and adding one of the best drummers in the country, Grimsby-based John Perry. The College presents more delights on Wednesday, in the form of Apitos, one of the longest established Latin bands in the North. The band's percussionist, Dave Hassell, is an authority on authentic Latin American rhythms and I attended a terrific workshop run by Dave at the late lamented York Arts Centre some years ago. Expect an eclectic mix of Cuban and Brazilian music with a distinctive injection of jazz by Apitos. More details on both of the events above from the LCM reception on 0113 222 3400.

Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, tomorrow night presents Peter Frank's Dixieland Allstars, featuring John McAndrew on trumpet and our own Martin Kid Boyd on clarinet and saxophone. Details from 01937 842544.

Sundays continue to be an all day jazz zone in York, raising the spirits enough to carry over and ease that Monday morning feeling. Begin with Tim New's group for Sunday lunch at the York Hilton, move on to Carol Addy and Finesse at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, and wind up your day with the wacky jam session at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green in the evening.

Monday's Fine And Mellow session arrives not a moment too soon. This is the young duo of singer Nina and pianist Karl at York's newest pub, the Rook And Gaskill, Lawrence Street, from about 8.30pm.

Tuesday's favourite jazz joint is Scarborough Jazz at Scholars bar, Bedford Hotel, and the resident Mike Gordon Trio welcomes saxophonist Tony Birchill this week.

Wednesday brings us back to the Alan Barnes/Kid Boyd Band, when they begin a short tour at the Goodfellowship Inn, Cottingham Road for Hulljazz (01482 492868). Thursday brings the Barnes/Boyd party to York, as part of the J Night International Jazz Series - bring your dancing shoes (Temple Hall, York St John College, telephone: 01904 658338).

They continue their joyful way on Friday evening at Ripon Grammar School and finish on Saturday March 22 at Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa. Martin's band is one of the most popular in the region and he is to be congratulated on putting together this tour with the outstanding Alan Barnes.

The piano-less group in modern jazz was pioneered by Gerry Mulligan in the 1950s and later came Back Door, a saxophone/bass guitar/drums trio, which honed its unique sound at the famous Blakey Ridge pub, up in the Yorkshire Dales during the mid-1970s.

Now a new saxophone/guitar/drums trio comes steaming out of Scotland, in the form of Trio AAB. Their new CD, Stranger Things Happen At C (Caber Records), was launched with a national CMN tour in February and it comes as a refreshing treat for these jaded ears. The trio plays a fair amount of driving ding-ding-a-ding jazz, but they also stretch out into some elegiac and pastoral pieces.

Guest Celtic whistle player Brian Finnegan joins the trio on five tracks and the resulting improvisations are soulfully melodic and danceable by turns.

If you enjoy interweaving, eclectic sounds, recalling the energy and audacity of Ornette Coleman, Roland Kirk or Jimmy Guiffre's The Train And The River, Trio AAB are for you.

Updated: 09:49 Friday, March 14, 2003