Three Christmas presents worth treating you and yours to are up for grabs this week. First of the jazz Christmas parties should be a musical riot tomorrow night at Beckenhams Studio Club.

Tenor saxist Spike Robinson and pianist Nick Weldon have a fortnightly residency there, but for this festive feast of music they have arranged a special delivery of added star attractions, including Polish cornettist Janusz Carmello, who makes a big sound on his pocket-sized trumpet.

This Friday sees the outstanding Cubana Bop take the stand at Blackheath Halls monthly Late Night Jazz spot in the bar its a 10pm start.

Brighton pianist Terry Seabrook had long harboured the ambition to form a touring and recording band which fused the best in Latin dance rhythms with brilliantly-voiced instrumental arrangements and some of the finest jazz improvisors in the country.

His dream has been a reality for about five years now, with successful albums the latest, The Story So Far, will be on sale at the gig lengthy tours and star billing at international jazz festivals.

Its music in the ever-popular Latin dance jazz tradition of Tito Puente and Poncho Sanchez. Go ready to party.

Christmas songs have always left me cold. Can you believe a radio listener survey last year placed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer among the top 50 songs of the 20th century? All right, yes, you can believe it.

The Christmas jollity shouldnt stop the vocals on offer from Kym Martin this Sunday being of superior quality when she guests with the Harry Barrett Band at Wellings Lord Kitchener.

Personally, I hope she avoids even the well-used Christmas Song, whose words scarcely pass muster. The lyricist Robert Wells wrote some appallingly sexist words in other contexts. He deserves to have his chestnuts well and truly roasted on an open fire.