WHAT’S ON: Friday-Sunday, 11th Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, University of Sunderland, 01388-767208; Saturday (12.30), Keith Stephen’s Hot Club Trio with Mike Piggott, St Augustine’s, Darlington; Sunday, Ray Dales, Forum Music Centre, Darlington, 01325 363135.

CD REVIEWS: Gary Husband & Alex Machacek (Abstract Logix ABLX041) POWERHOUSE drummer Husband has recently featured as a keyboard player with John McLaughlin’s 4th Dimension.

Here, playing acoustic piano, with Machacek on acoustic and electric guitars, we hear rather a different side with a reflective and conversational album. abstractlogix.com.

Michael J. McEvoy/The Long Way Home (Rezzonator Music REZZ-CD 009) PIANIST and composer McEvoy, better known for his cinema and TV work, has produced a solid jazz album here with Gerard Presencer on trumpets, Nigel Hitchcock and Ben Castle saxes, Mark Nightingale trombone, James Maddren drums and Tom Farmer bass, with fellow pianist Jason Rebello guesting on two tracks. The original compositions are nicely varied on a very satisfying album. michaeljmcevoy.com.

Tim Hegarty/Tribute (Miles High Records MHR8623) THE New York tenor player acknowledges his mentors from George Coleman to Jimmy Heath. He could hardly have chosen a better team than Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid and Carl Allen and with producer Mark Sherman adding his vibes on some tracks, you have an easy flowing, but hard-swinging CD. mileshighrecords.com.