BBC TV's Top Gear programme is the second in recent weeks to point a shaming finger at the Government of the USA. January's BBC4 documentary on jazz photographer Herman Leonard showed little progress on rebuilding the City of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Top Gear's laddish trio of presenters was similarly appalled, driving into the ruined city. "How is it that after a year, the richest country in the world has done nothing?" said Jeremy Clarkson. Significantly, it is the poor black districts which have been totally ignored.

Within days of the devastation, the New Orleans Musicians Appeal Fund (NOMAF) had been formed by members of the British Musicians' Union. Donations were received from France, Germany and Spain. With no administrative charges siphoned off, the total funds were rushed to the Musicians' Clinic and to several groups and individual musicians.

NOMAF's chief administrator, Chris Walker, and his wife arrived back from New Orleans this week.

"The fund was intended to give immediate relief and closed in January after raising £45,000 ($90,000)," said Chris.

"Because of pollution from the flood waters around 80 per cent of the city is uninhabitable, but there are signs of the odd houses being rebuilt.

"However, the message from the city is that tourism is not only possible, but necessary to the economy. You can land at the airport, take a taxi to the French Quarter and find good hotels, good restaurants and live jazz. So, the best thing you can do is to go there and spend money!" Spread the word.

Wakefield Jazz spreads the word tonight with vocalist Anita Wardell and the Benn Clatworthy Quartet. This was the exciting pairing which packed Scarborough Jazz at Scholars on Tuesday. The band includes New York pianist Cecilia Coleman, Mike Janisch (bass) and Martin Drew, who clocked up 20 years as Oscar Peterson's drummer. Details from 01977 680542.

The jazz shoes at Howden Live tomorrow night are worn by the Dave Newton Trio.

Known for his supportive role with vocalists Carole Kidd, Tina May and Stacey Kent, Dave excels as an exquisite soloist. The venue is the Shire Hall, Market Place (01430 431535).

Also tomorrow night, Jazz In The Spa presents Jazz Mundo, featuring lead guitar, violin, saxophone and rhythm. The band's repertoire includes Hot Club of France swing, harmonised vocals and some Latin-tinged originals and the venue is the Trustees Hall, High Street, Boston Spa (01937 842544).

Diary date: on Saturday, March 3 the Alex Welsh Legacy is at Jazz In The Spa, with Roy Williams, Johnny Barnes and Enrico Tomasso.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz hosts General Cluster, a crowd-pulling six-piece playing standards, bebop and one or two originals. The band is fronted by York's Ian Chalk (trumpet and flugelhorn), Steve Whitehead (saxophones and clarinet) and Baz Hewland (vibes). Details from 01723 379818.

Vocalist Jimmy Scott's album All The Way (Warner Jazz) was released in 1992 and nominated for a Grammy.

Beginning with Lionel Hampton, Jimmy had a promising recording career with Savoy Records and then signed to Ray Charles' label in the 1950s. The album produced by Ray was pulled after three weeks, when Savoy claimed an exclusivity clause.

Jimmy's comebacks, and a couple of album releases, were short-lived and he spent years in obscurity in his native Cleveland, as a hotel elevator man with occasional one-night gigs.

New-found fans include Madonna and Van Morrison, and All The Way will be re-released on Monday. It is an album of standards, deliciously slow, and he phrases like an instrument, totally compelling in the emotionally-charged manner of Nina Simone or Billie Holiday.

Kenny Barron, Ron Carter and Grady Tate provide guilt-edged support and guest saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman stays respectfully close to the tune in his short solos. Occasionally subtle strings tip-toe in behind the vocals, as in My Foolish Heart and Angel Eyes. If you thought Ella's version of Every Time We Say Goodbye was definitive, Jimmy's will prompt a rethink.

His crystal diction wrings the last drops of poetry from the lyrics, the words of Matt Dennis' Angel Eyes sounding almost autobiographical, with much of his life spent singing to drunks in bars. However, Jimmy's buoyancy refreshes every song, whether it is the first or the 15th time you have heard it and this is a timely release.