JAZZ in the region seems to be settling into a similar pattern as last autumn, with regular performances of mainly local musicians presented by dedicated volunteers and the occasional bigger name at some of our flagship venues, writes Peter Bevan.

The round-up starts with this weekend's annual Georgian Jazz Festival at Richmond’s Theatre Royal, featuring the Paul Edis Sextet as part of a short North-East tour promoting their forthcoming CD tomorrow, followed on Sunday by Richmond Jam, a group of young musicians who first came together at the 2009 festival. Details and booking at georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk.

Ripon International Festival sees Pete Long and his Goodmen, including vibes player Anthony Kerr, at Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday, September 17; information and tickets at 01765 605508.

As well as touring with his sextet, pianist Paul Edis organises regular jazz dates in Durham, Crook and Newcastle. Durham dates are the popular lunchtime series in the upstairs studio at the Gala Theatre, increasingly sold out on the day so advance booking is recommended.

These resume next Friday with popular saxophonist and clarinettist Alan Barnes joining Edis as a duo – they also appear in a quartet at Newcastle’s Jazz Café the same evening.

Saxophonist Graeme Wilson leads his quintet at the Gala on October 17, followed by New York Brass Band on November 28 – that's York as in North Yorkshire – and singer Zoe Gilby’s Quartet on December 19.

Evening Gala dates include singer Clare Teal’s return on October 12, the Paul Edis Sextet on the 13th and guitarist John Etheridge with Kit Holmes on the 17th. Full details of all these at galadurham.co.uk or 0300 266600.

The series at St Cuthbert’s Centre in Crook is under way with the next on Friday, November 14, by Djangologie, which launches a new CD this autumn. Tickets at the door or from 01388 768880.

As before, there are three jazz clubs in Darlington.

Darlington Jazz Club’s Sunday teatime gigs at the Music Forum resume on Sunday on a fortnightly basis. Only two dates have been announced so far, a youth night to begin with and the Jazztones on the 28th. Further details will be available at theforumonline.co.uk.

Darlington New Orleans jazz Club, now well established at St Augustine’s Centre, continues with The Spirit of New Orleans Band on October 4, the Reinhardt/Grappelli-inspired Matt Holborn Quartet on November 1, an extra date on November 8 by trombone duo Slide by Slide, and finally the Savannah Jazz Band on December 6. Full details on their website darlingtonjazz.co.uk.

The Opus 4 Jazz Club, which meets on Friday nights at the Travellers Rest in Cockerton, continues with Lickety Split next Friday, the Lindsay Hannon Quartet on October 17, Vasilis Xenopoulis with the Paul Edis Trio on November 21 and the Dougie Pugh Quartet on December 19. Details at 01325 382676.

Jazz also appears in unexpected places with the resurgent National Youth Jazz Orchestra coming to the Princess Alexandra Auditorium at Yarm School in Stockton on Saturday, September 27 (paaonline.org), and guitarist Nigel Price’s Organ Trio at Ushaw College in Durham on Friday, October 31 (nigelprice.biz).

There are two appearances in the area by Fumi Okiji’s Old Time Jazz Band, courtesy of the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme. The singer will appear with a group of eminent London musicians at Edmundbyers Village hall on Friday, November 21, and the following night at Cotherstone Village hall. Full details at highlightsnorth.co.uk.

Finally, after a relatively quiet period, Sage, Gateshead continues its jazz programme with a rather mixed bag which includes singer Claire Martin on Monday, September 22, the official launch of the new Paul Edis Sextet CD, Mr. Hipster, on Thursday, September 25, and a workshop and concert on Tuesday, September 30, by Lulo Reinhardt (great nephew of the legendary Django Reinhardt) as part of an extensive national tour by his Latin Swing Project.

Other dates include singers Curtis Stiger on Wednesday, October 8, and Gregory Porter on Thursday, October 30, the Neil Cowley Trio on Saturday, October 11, and the renowned South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim in a solo performance on Wednesday, November 19.

Full details at sagegateshead.com or the box office on 01914 434661.

Space precludes mention of jazz dates elsewhere including Newcastle, but full details are available regularly on Lance Liddle’s jazz blog bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk.