THE year will close on a somewhat disappointing note for popular traditional outfit The Pendle Jazzmen, notwithstanding the success of their CD recorded live earlier this year at one of the band's regular fortnightly gigs at The Whitchaff in Rawtenstall.

Colin Mason, the group's drummer and manager, tells me that the gigs at The Bull and Butcher, in Burnley, and The Royal, in Great Harwood, have been aborted due to lack of support at the former and "economic realities" at the latter.

By that I assume that, though enough people were going to listen to the band at The Royal, for one reason or another they weren't spending enough on drink to make it worthwhile for the landlord. That's always the danger in any pub or club, as I know through long experience of running bands.

And with the perils of drink and drive uppermost in most sensible people's minds, it's understandable that jazz fans, while keen to hear live music, won't get involved in serious drinking unless someone else is driving them home. Anyway, gigs at the Whitchaff continue to flourish and the next outing for the Pendle Jazzmen will be Dec 27 when trumpeter Russell Mason will be the special guest.

There will be no lack of festive bonhomie and, as The Whitchaff is such a smashing venue, the band should see the year out on a rousing note.

Meantime, here is advance notification of a tremendous gig planned for the New Year at Blackpool Grand Theatre where on Tuesday, April 1t, Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, Acker Bilk and their respective bands will be in concert.

I must admit I suspected someone was pulling my leg when I saw the date: April 1. Getting three such giants of British jazz on stage at one time is a huge bonus for enthusiasts and that is reflected in the price of the tickets: £16 and £20.

However, I feel sure that people will be happy to make the financial outlay as Messrs Ball, Barber and Bilk are guaranteed to put on a show of musical excellence.

I compered a concert earlier this year which Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen headlined and was hugely impressed by the continuing high quality of the band's performance.

Kenny himself, though not in the best of health in recent years, is still a wonderful singer and trumpet soloist and his self-effacing humour had the crowd in the palm of his hand. A supreme showman.

And while we are talking of future bookings, The Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall will re-open for jazz on Tuesday, January 7, when tenor sax ace Stan Sultzman will feature with the resident Tommy Whittle Quartet.

And make a note in your diary for Tuesday, January 28, when Mark Nightingale, described by Sir John Dankworth as "the best jazz trombonist in the world", makes a very welcome return to the Rhythm Station.