THE jazz programme in the area is not what it was three or four years ago, but it’s encouraging to report at least one new venue, writes Peter Bevan.

Since its successful conversion 19 months ago, the Witham Hall in Barnard Castle has established a mixed programme including a strong classical music presence, often reviewed in these pages.

Now it hopes to do the same with a monthly jazz programme which starts on Wednesday, February 25, with a duo performance by two of the North-East’s finest young players, Graham Hardy on trumpet and possibly flugelhorn and Paul Edis on piano.

This will be followed by singer Zoë Gilby’s Quartet on March 25, Djangologie on April 29 and tenor saxophonist/flautist Sue Ferris’s Trio on May 27. Tickets are available on 01833 631107 or online at thewitham.org.uk.

Another newcomer to the local jazz circuit, Ushaw College in Durham, has already had a successful launch with its first few events. They continue on Friday, February 27, with the Paul Edis Sextet, the Virtuoso Trio on March 6, the Customs House Big Band on April 17 and guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston on May 1. Details online seem elusive but tickets are available at the door.

The Friday lunchtime series at Durham’s Gala Theatre has been very popular and continues with Dean Stockdale’s Trio on February 20, visiting guest trumpeter Bruce Adams with Paul Edis accompanying on piano on March 20 and singer Ruth Lambert’s Trio on April 17.

Also at the Gala there will be evening performances – on Wednesday, March 25, Val Wiseman’s Lady Sings the Blues celebrates the centenary of Billie Holiday’s birth, and Sunday, April 19, sees the debut of the Gala Big Band; tickets on 03000 266 600 or galadurham.co.uk.

While with big bands, the 12th Great North Big Band Festival takes place at Sunderland University on the weekend of March 6-8. Full details are at sunderlanduniversitybigband.co.uk or from Bill Watson on 01388 767208.

In Darlington, our three established jazz clubs continue with their regular events.

Opus 4 Jazz Club’s Friday night meetings at the Travellers' Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, continue tonight (13th) with singer Debra Milne’s Ensemble, the Paul Edis Sextet on March 13, Ruth Lambert’s Trio on April 10, The Sue Ferris Quintet on May 15 and Dean Stockdale’s Quartet on June 12; details on 01325 382676, tickets only available at the door.

Darlington Jazz Club has switched its early evening shows at the Forum to the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The next, on February 22, features Al Wood with both the Durham County Youth Band and the Little Big Band, followed by a Latin Jazz Groove on March 8 and Darlington Big Band on March 22.

These are the last dates at the Forum as from April 12 the combo nights move to the Quakerhouse in Mechanics' Yard and the big band nights to venues including St Augustine’s Parish Hall, King’s Hotel and the DSRM Social Club in Longfield Road, Darlington. The annual jazz festival is scheduled for April 24-26 and details are available on the festival’s Facebook page.

Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club continues its lunchtime series at St Augustine’s Parish Hall on the first Saturday of each month. March 7 brings a young Scottish group, The Gramophone Jass Band, followed by the T J Johnson Band on March 14, the New Century Ragtime Orchestra on April 4 and the Mr. Men – Jeff Barnhart and John Hallam – returning on May 2; full details at darlingtonjazz.co.uk.

The Big Chris Barber Band, which seems to have played most of our local theatres in the last year or two, is at Middlesbrough Theatre next Friday; box Office 01642 815181.

Of course, the major event in our regional jazz calendar, the 11th Gateshead International Jazz Festival, offers a packed weekend on April 10-12, but with so many performances there we hope to have a separate feature nearer the time.