EAST Lancashire used to be such a great place for jazz. I say used to be because although well-established bands like The Pendle Jazzmen and Sounds 18 have a dedicated core of followers, the number of pubs and clubs offering 'live' swing music seems to have quite markedly shrunk in the past 10-20 years.

Clearly, changing tastes have dictated entertainment policies and, though there are still pockets of resistance, I wonder what the hell is going to happen to the music we love when old swingers like you and me go to that big concert hall in the sky.

Maybe the answers, or some of them, can be found in a series of jazz workshops being run by Mike Cornick and James Rae, the latest at Blackburn School of Music, 53, Preston New Road, tomorrow from 2pm to 5pm.

The clarinettists and saxophonists will be upstairs with Mr Rae while two floors below, pianist and keyboards expert Mr Cornick will be inviting students to play and discuss his compositions.

The workshops are being organised by Time & Tune in association with Kalmus/Edition music publishers. Call 01254 697460 SAP for details and bookings.

James Rae is 45. He studied clarinet, bass clarinet, piano and composition at the Guildhall School of Music from 1975-9 and has subsequently established himself as one of the UK's leading saxophonists and composers, with 82 volumes of educational wind music to his credit.

Mike Cormick is 55 and a product of Trinity College in London, where he studied jazz piano composition. He is a hugely experienced and respected teacher and player.

It is dedicated people like James Rae and Mike Cornick who will ensure that jazz survives and thrives by encouraging and teaching the youngsters who somehow manage to negotiate a way through the dross and shameful mockery of what these days passes for music.

They could do worse than encourage their students at the end of the workshops to go and spend a few quid on two CDs which have probably had the most influence on me: Shorty Rogers Cool 'n' Crazy and The Buddy Rich Band 'Big Swing Face'. Awesome. Absolutely awesome.

And that adjective certainly applies to saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, featured guest soloist with The Tommy Melville Quartet at the Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall next Tuesday.

Israeli-born Gilad relocated to London three years ago and has very quickly established himself as a player of phenomenal ability. He is rated one of the best currently on the international jazz circuit by people whose opinions I respect.

In fact, I would suggest that a visit to The Rhythm Station to hear Gilad would be a pilgrimage worth making for any aspiring saxophonist. And follow that by making the trip to the Derby Ward Labour Club, Deane Road, Bolton, on Friday, September 20, where the unbelievably brilliant Ben Castle is starring at a Jazz Jamboree.

GILAD ATZMON (alto) with The Tommy Melville Quartet: The Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall. Tuesday, September 17. 8.30-11.0pm. £6.

JAZZ JAMBOREE: Featuring BEN CASTLE (tenor) with The Steve Moore Trio and Jeriatric Jazz: Derby Ward Labour Club, Deane Road, Bolton. 8.0-11.00pm. £3. (tel 01204 531114)