Wakefield Jazz back in the groove for autumn

The position was so serious a year ago that supporters were canvassed for ideas about the future direction of what is Yorkshire's leading jazz rendezvous.

Happily, there is a more confident mood as the club resumes next Friday after its summer break.

"We have shortened our season, beginning in October instead of September, and are taking an extra week out at Christmas and Easter," said club promoter Chris de Saram.

"This makes a total of 30 gigs rather than 40 over the year. We have increased the proportion of mainstream bands but that doesn't mean we won't be sticking our neck out occasionally.

"Actually, the autumn period was the worst last year because after Christmas we pretty much held our own. Anyway, we've put our losses behind us and I'm confident we will be OK until next April and beyond if our audience holds up."

One of the blights of last winter was the cancellation of two shows because of the weather. Both are included in the new programme, beginning on Friday with the Brand X All Stars specially recruited by the Brand family who are long-standing supporters of the club.

The other postponed gig, Jason Yarde, Andrew McCormack and Trio Wah!, is on October 29. Other bands booked include Tommy Evans, Jim Hart's Gemini, the Gilad Atzmon Quartet, Killer Shrimp, Threeway, and Karen Sharp.

Meanwhile, a pre-season taster for the new season takes place at the Holiday Inn, Ossett, on Sunday, when Colin Byrne's UK Mingus Collective play.