The marlbank selection of next week's live gigging highlights

Nikki Iles, Christine Tobin, Cathal Roche, the Daniel Herskedal Trio, Tony Kofi, Paul Clarvis and more, Sligo Jazz Project, Sligo begins Tues 19th running to Sun 24th

The festival's artistic director Eddie Lee writes in the programme ''our artist-in-residence this year is award-winning UK composer and bandleader Nikki Iles. We have assembled an all-star jazz orchestra for her performance on Thursday which like many of our events at Sligo Jazz each year, gives it that familiar one-off appeal. It highlights the return of guitarist Mike Walker, who last time round was a member of the band in residence, jazz supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen, and for whom Nikki has written several pieces of music. Her husband Pete Churchill is here too, one of the UK’s most celebrated jazz vocal educators and arrangers, so expect him to pop up where you’d least expect.''

Julie Dexter and band Jam House, Birmingham Wed 20th

Marcus Miller Ronnie Scott's, London Wed 20th-Fri 22nd

Tori Freestone trio Vortex, London Wed 20th

Saxist Freestone's 2014 Whirlwind album In the Chophouse proved forward thinking acoustic jazz, the kind Julian Siegel, who Freestone’s sound resembles a little, is so adept at conjuring up, with a strong intuitive improvisational ethic on a bunch of tunes. Freestone is single minded and intense without the need for too much stark introspection.

Tom Syson and Josh Schofield Vortex, London Thurs 21st

Honor Heffernan Quartet Arthur's, Dublin Fri 22nd

To many the greatest Irish mainstream jazz singer - appearing in the Liberties with the Heffernan quartet

Caolán Hutchinson Trio Scott's Belfast Fri 22nd

The Omagh keyboardist surfaced first on our radar three years ago as a member of guitarist Cris Gill's quartet The Good Noise

James Taylor Quartet Lighthouse, Poole Fri 22nd

Greg Abate 606, London Sat 23rd

By a pure fluke last year we caught the New England-based alto saxophonist and flautist Greg Abate playing at the Spice in Soho in the wake of a very elegant Kenny Barron-themed album Magic Dance at a relaxed lunchtime gig. 'I'll Remember April' from Abate's 2016 album Kindred Spirits was a significant high point of the gig. What a fine instrumentalist Abate is. Greg Abate photo, via the 6