It is a wonderful, generous thing that good musicians do and, at this time of year, when we are counting our blessings, we should be thankful that certain talented people have spent many years becoming instrumental virtuosi, so that once in a while we can be moved to tears just by opening our ears.

Opportunities to be thankful will be plentiful in 2007, with some of the world's finest jazz musicians scheduled to visit Ireland, and there is an interesting and revealing contrast between the approaches of the two main promoters on the scene.

Note Productions, responsible in the past for visits by people like Brad Mehldau and Kurt Elling, are going straight for the big guns with their Double Helix series in the splendid Mahony Hall in Glasnevin. The series starts in April with perhaps the biggest gun of all, Wayne Shorter, maybe the closest thing to a living jazz saint, whose quartet left a powerful impact when they played the National Concert Hall last year. The series continues in May with west-coast saxophone guru Charles Lloyd, also on a return visit, and then in October the great Jan Garbarek and his group. The last group in the series, Thimar, will feature saxophonist John Surman, lute player Anouar Brehem and the great Dave Holland on bass.

The "Double" part of the title refers to an enlightened decision to give the support slot in each case to up-and-coming Irish groups, including bands featuring leading lights of the younger generation such as drummer Sean Carpio and pianist Greg Felton, which may be the only way to force a certain section of the audience to listen to homegrown jazz musicians.

Meanwhile, the Improvised Music Company, by some distance the busiest jazz promoter in the country with hundreds of gigs every year, has opted in the main to engage with European jazz. Their 12 Points festival in late April will be an exposition of the new music that is being made in the new Europe.

American jazz remains an inspiration for European jazz musicians, but there is more input now coming from indigenous sources.

Also on the IMC roster for 2007 is Dutch guitarist Jesse Van Ruller, who is good enough to have played duets with Pat Metheny, and Scandinavian superstars EST, whose following now extends far beyond the confines of the jazz audience.

The IMC have also been a very important catalyst for broadening the Irish musical palate and bringing musicians from other parts of the world to the attention of Irish audiences.

This year's international selection includes visits from Chinese pipa player Liu Fang (February), Indian classical singer Kaushiki Chakrabarty (April), Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya (May) and a welcome return for Malian guitarist Afel Bocoum.

The Bray Jazz Festival looks set to score a coup in bringing trumpeter Dave Douglas's new group to Ireland in early summer.

Douglas is regarded by many as the leading innovator of his generation and opportunities to see him perform should be regarded as obligatory.

Before all that, current saxophone supremo Chris Potter flies into Ireland after Christmas with his Underground band for two dates in Limerick and Galway, and more in the New Year. In the meantime, from this little drummer boy, have a cool yule, and if you see any musicians working over the festive season, remember to say thanks.