WHAT’S ON: Tonight Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Band’s Christmas Special, Sage, Gateshead, 0191-443-4661 and Extreme Measures, Georgian Theatre, Stockton, 01642-674115.

REVIEWS: radio.string.quartet.vienna & Klaus Paier/Radiotree (ACT 9473-2) This is a very convincing and dynamic collaboration, blending Paier’s accordion with the exciting string quartet. His compositions for the new group are interspersed with three of Joe Zawinul’s best-known compositions on a most enjoyable album.

Jonas Knuttson & Johan Norberg/Skaren: Norrlands III (ACT 9474-2) The saxophonist and guitarist, already an established duo, are joined by bass player Eva Kruse in a further exploration of Northern Swedish folksongs, with vocal group Kraja added on some tracks. I haven’t heard the previous volumes, but this is a delight.

Nils Landgren /Christmas With My Friends, Vol II (ACT 9476-2) An exploration of Christmas music from different ages including familiar ones, such as A Child Is Born and Ding Dong Merrily On High, alongside the less well known.

Landgren’s expressive trombone is joined by a variety of instrumentalists including Knutsson and Norberg and several German and Swedish singers.