IT'S not every mail drop that brings a particularly interesting letter but I have received such a one from Nick Jackson, a lecturer at Blackburn College.

Mr Jackson wrote to tell me about his 17-year-old son Adam, currently studying for A-levels at the college.

Adam is a talented and enthusiastic musician who plays organ/keyboards, electric guitar, trumpet and drums.

He is a serious enough young man to have committed himself to tuition on organ/keyboards and is being taught drums by the excellent Declan Sanderson, who lives in Clitheroe but teaches at the Blackburn School of Music.

Jackson senior plays organ/keyboards and has been a member and treasurer of the East Lancashire Electronic Organ Society for 20 years.

Adam has clearly inherited his dad's love of music.

Nick explained in his letter that his son shared his passion for orchestral, big band and jazz.

The Jackson home sounds remarkably like the one in which I was reared. My mum and dad, both pianists, were fully supportive of my ambition to be a drummer from Day One.

In fact, they bought me my first kit when I was six years of age and I was playing paid gigs with the family band at 12.

Anyway, back to the Jacksons.

Nick wrote to ask for advice on what Adam should do to gain some experience in his quest to play drums on a "competitive" level, as well as practising at home to tapes and exercises set him by Declan Sanderson.

The short answer, really, is to put himself about, attending jazz gigs in and around the Blackburn area and maybe inserting an ad in the LET and/or Loot, asking if there are any like-minded young people out there, desperately seeking a talented young drummer, keen to join a jazz-orientated band

Well, are there? If so give Nick Jackson a call at Blackburn College on (direct line) 01254 292393 and he will pass on the family's home number so you can chat with Adam.

Last week's column eulogised about the talents of jazz trumpeter Bruce Adams, who should have appeared with the resident Tommy Melville Quartet at the Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall.

Because of a contractual mix-up, Bruce had to be somewhere else on that date and veteran jazz trombonist Roy Williams, a major name on the UK jazz circuit for many years, stepped in at the last-minute to replace him.

Bruce WILL be there on Tuesday and the management of the Rhythm Station are hoping that the swift action they took to book a musician of Roy Williams's standing will have gone a long way to assuaging the disappointment felt by fans of Bruce Adams.

BRUCE ADAMS: Brilliant jazz trumpeter, and the Tommy Melville Quartet. The Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall. Tuesday, January 22. 8.30-11pm. Adm £6. Tel: 01706 214039.

THE PENDLE JAZZMEN: Holden Arms, Grane Rd., Haslingden. Every first, third and fifth Friday of the month. Whitchaff Inn, Bury Rd., Rawtenstall. Every second and fourth Friday of the month. From 9pm each venue. Free admission. Burlington's (De Tabley), Blackburn Rd., Ribchester. EverySunday from January 20. 12.30-3pm. Adm free.

ART LESTER BIG BAND: Pennine Suite: Horwich RMI, Chorley New Rd., Bolton. Every Tuesday. From 8.30. Adm free.

KEN WARD BIG BAND: Mercury Motel, Manchester Rd., Westhoughton, Nr Bolton. Every Tuesday. From 8pm. Adm free.