It’s the weekend and time to Root Down with Gaffa who are Wayne Evans (voice/bass), Simon Bowhill (drums), Richard Kensington (percussion), Clive Smith (guitar) and John Maslen (guitar/lap steel) on Friday August 16 at Peggy’s Skylight in George Street, Hockley – come and hear their unique sounds for just £6, afterwards DJ Daddio plays until late. Reeds man Matt Palmer fronts his trio at the Pelican Club around the corner from 10pm until midnight; you’re welcome there for a meal or just a drink at the bar.

Lady Bird Jazz perform at Brigitte Bordeaux in Sherwood at 8pm on Saturday 17 August; Liz Cumberland sings with Steve Rodda on guitar and Simon Paterson double bass, tickets are £8 including a glass of fizz on arrival. The wonderfully prolific Simon Spillett visits Peggy’s with his tenor sax and Tubby Hayes vibe blasting out charts alongside Steve Melling on piano, Stuart Barker on bass and Miles Levin on drums; tickets are £12/10 and doors open at 7pm – best book this one in advance. (They also have their weekly afternoon tea accompanied by Paul Deats’ jazz piano between 12 and 5pm).

There’s a free Sunday Mezinee concert back at Peggy’s on August 18 from 12 midday featuring Brand New Heavies trumpeter Bryan Corbett on trumpet alongside Paul Deats on piano. At 6pm the documentary film Jazz Ambassadors is to be screened; it tells the little-known story of when Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman, along with their mixed race bands, were deployed in a propaganda fight on the frontlines of the Cold War.  They give the Civil Rights movement in the United States a voice on the world stage when it most needed one – this era seems eerily relevant today.  Helen Gayle sings with the Matt Ratcliffe Trio in The Lion at Basford from 1.30-3.30pm.  The Nottingham Jazz Orchestra have guest vocalist Jeff Hooper, known for his work with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and the BBC Big Band, joining them from 8-10.30pm at the Federation Club Claremont Rd, entry is £10.

The Nottingham Jazz Workshop presents a concert at the Lion at Basford on Monday August 19 from 8pm. The Alfa Big Swing Band also perform at the Village Inn in Upper Marehay Rd at the same time.

There’s a Jam session plus DJs at The Chameleon, 17 Angel Row on Wednesday August 21 from 7pm, featuring Footshooter and Pete Beardsworth; they’re raising funds for charity, musicians, MCs, poets et al are all welcome to join in the jam, entry is £4 on the door. Nottingham based clarinettist Ken Godfrey fronts his Central Jazz Band at Risley Park Jazz Club for an entertaining evening of lively traditional jazz from 8-10.30pm, admission is £9.

The Nottingham Jazz Jam returns to Peggy’s on its new night this Thursday August 22 at 8pm. The sign up list will be on the bar; first come, first jammed. The house band is Stephen Sherriff on keys, Martyn Spencer on double bass and Andrew Wood on drums.

Where no entry fee is mentioned please assume your purchases from the venue support the live music.