From the point of view of the jazz devotee, prospects are ever brighter as the spring advances, and for anyone who will poke around a little there will be much of interest to be seen and heard. In the first place, one or two of the forthcoming college dances are offering music that should be fairly satisfying to the discerning listener, while serving as an appropriate background to the festivities. There is, for instance, in the offing, Andy Kirk, who has an experienced colored band that can even perform current popular favorites pleasantly, although its chief accomplishments are in a more exciting vein. Like all colored bands of its stature, Kirk's has its share of soloists, although it will be lacking two of the most eminent, who were playing when I last heard the orchestra several months ago--Bill Coleman, a sensitive trumpeter whose lip went bad on him, and Dick Wilson, a good tenor sax man who died last fall. Still, with Mary Lou Williams, certainly one of the greatest jazz women playing today, and hefty June Richmond to do the hot songs, Andy and his Clouds of Joy are unquestionably worth your while and your money. They have never quite attained the heights that Basie well by Dunster House, where they will be appearing the evening of May eighth. Plans are being made to hold a jamming contest for Harvard musicians a week from tonight, the winner of which will receive a ticket and a chance to play a chorus or two with Kirk's band. But more of this later in the week.

Of somewhat lesser interest is Georgie Auld's presence at the Jubilee. This band is rather new, and while it may not be as well integrated as Kirk's auld's tenor sax solos have been good listening and should make up most of the difference. It played here some weeks ago, however, and I heard it kindly spoken of at the time. Then there is Johnnie "Scat" Davis at Lowell House, who suffers, at least in this column, from competition with Kirk the same night. You, too have probably sat through a collegiate movie in which his obstreperous jive has been prominently featured. His orchestra seems to be just a backdrop for his antics, which have been fairly well received in the stage shows in which he has been appearing for the past few weeks. It might be well to visit the RKO Boston the week before the dance and decide on his merits for yourself. However, the quality of the orchestra seems to have become a secondary consideration with House dance committees, and though the jazz will be rare at Dunster House, Lowell will have its good time, too.

Another center of musical interest is the Ken, in Boston, where yesterday the second of a series of weekly jam sessions was held. The crowd was large, the entrance fee fifty-five cents, the drinks not too expensive, and the music excellent when the big names--Max Kaminsky, Al Morgan, and Joe Jones--were at work. The sponsors hope to attract a celebrity of Kaminsky's rank each week, in which case their drawing power around Boston, perhaps the most jazz-conscious city in the country, will be assured.