THERE can't be many pianists with a classical background who have attempted the quantum leap to jazz improvisation -- with a significant degree of achievement, that is.

I happily concede that there may very well be more out there than I am aware of. But I'm reasonably certain that few will have been as spectacularly successful as Dominic Alldis.

You may already know the work of this pianist, singer, composer and arranger, or at least know his name, possibly his reputation. He performs classics by the great American songwriters Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Rogers and Hart and anyone who does so is on my list of good guys, anyway.

However, it is the latest CD release by Alldis, featuring the music of the wonderful French musician/performer/composer Michel Legrand, that I want to discuss here. Legrand wrote some of the most evocative tunes in contemporary music, particularly What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life.

His compositions were a blend of classical and jazz so it is no surprise to learn that he figures highly on the list of all-time favourites posted by Dominic Alldis.

The CD, Watch What Happens -- The Music of Michel Legrand, features Alldis on piano and vocals, Iain Ballamy saxes, Malcolm Creese double bass, Chris Wells percussion and the Pavao String Quartet from the Royal Academy of Music, where Alldis teaches improvisation to classical pianists and opera singers. It is no exaggeration to say that, from his hugely-impressive CV, Alldis appears to be diametrically opposed to what people imagine jazz piano players to be. He is an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, and has written a highly successful book, A Classical Approach To Jazz Piano. During the 1980s, he lived in France, learning to speak the language fluently and immersing himself in French musical traditions, which accounts for the Legrand connection.

The CD is out now and I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone whose taste in jazz is more mellow than hard bop. And you can catch The Dominic Alldis Ensemble at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on Thursday, October 30.

You may remember my favourable review last year of a CD Strange Place For Snow by the Swedish band e.s.t (esbjorn svensson trio), who have made such an impact on the global scene, winning the 2003 BBC Radio Jazz Awards Best International Act. Well, their latest offering, Seven Days Of Falling, is an excellent follow up with Svensson (piano), Dan Berglund (bass) and Magnus Ostrom (drums) enhancing their reputations as outstandingly talented and innovative musicians.

The American alto sax legend Lanny Morgan makes a welcome return to Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall, next Tuesday. Morgan is a wonderful player and as near to Charlie Parker as it is possible to get. He will also feature with the Tommy Melville Quartet at Mitton Hall Hotel, Whalley, the following night.