POP: JAZZ & BLUES

Airy, pop-tinged singing is to the fore at the Jazz Cafe this week, as, first Tania Maria (above), and then Tuck and Patti take the Camden venue's stage. Maria, who appears tonight and tomorrow, has created a hugely popular synthesis of Latin rhythms and mainstream jazz, while Patti Cathcart, the pure-voiced singer who performs with guitarist husband Tuck Andress on Tuesday and Wednesday, weaves an equally seductive style.

There should be fireworks at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street on Monday, when drummer Clark Tracey leads a top-flight sextet including saxophonist Alan Barnes and trumpeter Guy Barker in a tribute to hard- bop drummer Art Blakey.

From Wednesday, the club welcomes light jazz stylist Nelson Rangell, a virtuoso on saxophone and flute.

At Ronnie Scott's, master bassist Steve Swallow leads a quartet through a residency that runs to the end of the week. Swallow is mostly associated with such players as Gary Burton, Paul Bley and Art Farmer.

Explosive, a recording just released by WEA/Qwest, sees the star vibes player Milt Jackson in company with old colleagues John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. With such players as tenor man Ricky Woodard and trumpeter Snooky Young also along for the ride, this is a driving set that includes a powerful rendition of Jackson's "Bags' Groove".

And the theme continues with two interesting sets from the RCA/Victor archives. On Jolly Jumps In, the over-looked Bud Powell follower Pete Jolly is joined by Shelly Manne, Jimmy Giuffre and Shorty Rogers for a set of what can only be described as "West Coast bop", while Stereokonitz sees the cool-school alto player Lee Konitz in a lighter mood than would be expected by those who associate him with the pianist Lennie Tristano.