The Hunter/Andreae Quartet – Anton Hunter on guitar, Sam Andreae on saxophone, Gavin Barras on bass and Finlay Panter on drums – are at the Yardbird in Birmingham even as I write.

If you are in spitting distance of the venue, get down there to enjoy this lively Manchester band. The Birmingham date is the last in a short tour, but you can still hear three of the four with loads of others as the Beats & Pieces Big Band, playing music written and arranged by Ben Cottrell.

Beats & Pieces embark on their Summer 2010 tour in earnest on Saturday at Groove On The Green in Liverpool, before taking in Dempseys in Cardiff on Tuesday 8 June, Jazzland in Swansea on Wednesday 9 June, the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Thursday 1 July and the Marlborough Jazz Festival on Saturday 10 July.

And if ever there was a big band that sounded perfect for the 21st youngperson Beats & Pieces is it.

You can find out more about both bands here.