Jamie shamie
By now everyone in the UK's heard all about little Jamie Cullum, the jazzy singer/songwriter/pianist who's just hit big time with a million-pound three record deal with Verve
Jamie appears at Chelsea's 606 Club (22nd) - but, sorry, it's sold out! Try Pizza Express Dean Street on June 21st, but I doubt you'll be lucky
Oh, the power of the press (when it feels like it)!

Be there
George Russell? Hard to imagine what today's jazz scene would be like without his seminal input
Barbican is the setting for the iconic leader/composer's 80th birthday bash with his 'Living Time Orchestra', which includes Tiger Okoshi, Palle Mikkelborg and our own Andy Sheppard (13th): prepare yourself for 'thundering funk, restless electronics and swaggering improvisation': Meanwhile Ronnie Scott's features three 'don't miss' acts: Kenny Garrett (16 - 21st) Mingus Big Band (23rd - 28th) and the ever-popular Monty Alexander supported by the Alan Skidmore/Peter King quartet (30th - 5th)

Jazzin' round London
A rare chance to hear Alan Price at the Bulls Head, Barnes on June 12th: lots more good stuff at the Bull in June, including Humphrey Lyttelton (17th), Zoot Money (26th) Stan Tracey & Bobby Wellins (28th)
Andy Sheppard and off the wall classical pianist Joanna MacGregor renew their creative partnership for the City of London Festival at St Bartholomew-the-Great (23rd - 26th)
Pizza Express Jazz Club features tenorman Dave O'Higgins at the top of his powers with his quintet (20th), followed by the hip ranting of Jake Broder's 'Tribute to Lord Buckley' (25th - 29th), a celebration of one of the most obscure yet influential figures in US counter-culture
If you like to chill out to something more mellow, Frank Griffith presents his nonet at Highgate's Lauderdale House (26th); beautiful ensemble playing and brilliant solos from the likes of fellow

US expat Bob Martin (alto) Tom Cawley (piano) Henry Lowther (trumpet) and of course Frank himself on tenor
Lauderdale House also offers the big tenor sound from Italy, Renato D'Aiello with his new Italian trio (19th): they also visit Hugos in Lonsdale Road (22nd)
And for three nights Jazz Café offers none other than Courtney Pine with a new album launch (22nd - 24th)

L'esprit manouche
A staggering four members of the Reinhardt family come together to mark the 50th anniversary of Django's death, plus Fapy Lapertin, Angelo Debarre and Tchavolo Schmitt, at a special manouche festival at Moseley Birmingham on July 12th & 13th
Next to the annual Django pilgrimage at Samois sur Seine, near Paris, this is probably the most important gathering of gypsy guitars yet
More details on [www]


Out-of-town gigs worth catching
Entertaining funkmeister Denis Rollins brings his Badbone & Co to Hampton Open Air Pool (27th); Humphrey Lyttelton & his band (including stalwarts Kathy Stobart, Jimmy Hastings and Pete Strange) perform in the hallowed precincts of Guildford Cathedral (7th)
On June 21st, from 1pm - 10 p.m
there's Jazz on a Summer's Day at Gatehampton House, Goring on Thames, featuring a number of bands big and small (details 01491 874 492)
The ubiquitous Dave O'Higgins guests at Pizza Express, Maidstone with the Bradley Webb trio
Charismatic Gild Atzmon brings his Orient House Ensemble to the Watermill Dorking (19th) and the Fleece Boxford (20th): Soweto Kinch has a gig at the Lichfield Jazz (and Real Ale) Festival (28th)


What's in store for July
Take your pick: Herbie Hancock together with Bobby Hutcherson, Scott Colley and Terri Lyne Carrington; a double bill of Joshua Redman and Dave Holland; Cassandra Wilson; George Benson; Ralph Peterson; Jean-Michel Pilc; Irakere featuring Chucho Valdez, and John Zorn.