APRIL is usually one of the busiest of months for jazz tours but this year it was remarkably quiet. Luckily things pick up this month with visits by some of the bigger jazz names and two world premieres in some of our smaller venues, writes Peter Bevan.

The sad news for fans everywhere, of course, was the death last week of Humphrey Lyttelton. He had been due to appear at Middlesbrough Theatre on June 20, and tickets were selling well. The theatre has decided not to bring in a substitute, and everyone who bought tickets has been contacted.

Durham's Gala Theatre has one of the fullest jazz programmes, especially for singers, with jazz-folk vocalist Gwyneth Herbert making a very welcome return to the city tonight, followed by Stacy Kent on August 12 and, looking much further ahead, Clare Teal on October 31. In between, the young alto saxophonist Soweto Kinch is included in the Durham International Brass Festival there on July 19, and the indefatigable tour organizer and rhythm guitarist Dave Kelbie will introduce us to Django A la Créole, featuring New Orleans clarinettist Evan Christopher and guitarist David Blenkhorn. That's on July 31; box office 091-332- 4041.

With the appointment of Malcolm Creese as artistic director of Swaledale Festival, I was hoping to see a little more jazz and he hasn't disappointed, with one of the opening concerts featuring the music of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt played by the Keith Stephen Hot Club with special guest, violinist Mike Piggott.

That's at the CB Inn in Arkengarthdale on May 25.

Then, on the 27th, Creese himself, together with pianist Alcyona and saxophonist Robin Fincker, will accompany poet and reader Paul Hyland in Entrances and Exits, in St Oswald's Church, Askrigg, and the following day, at teatime, Alcyona and Fincker will perform as a jazz duet in the same venue. Guitarists John Williams and John Etheridge will be bridging the gap between jazz and classical music at St Andrew's Church, Grinton, on May 31, while the first performance of Tim Garland's Swaledale Variations may well include folk and jazz influences within a classical composition, also in St Andrew's, on May 28. The number to call for a brochure or tickets is 01748-880019, though some events are already sold out.

After their recent Jazz Festival, the most successful so far, the Sage in Gateshead resumes its jazz programme with the Christine Tobin Band with Liam Noble and Phil Robson on May 15, pianist Jason Moran's multi-media exploration of Thelonious Monk, featuring Moran's New York Trio with British musicians including Byron Wallen and Jason Yarde, on May 21, and a return visit on the 29th by legendary pianist McCoy Tyner, this time with special guest Joe Lovano.

The box office number is 0191-443-4661.

Meanwhile, on May 9, the Caedmon Hall in Gateshead (0191-433- 8420) will present the Michael Garrick Sextet - Revisited. This is a reunion by his original 1970s' allstar group, including vocalist Norma Winstone, trumpeter Henry Lowther and saxophonist Art Themen. They appear at Darlington Arts Centre on May 10 as part of the Jazz Nights series. That season concludes on June 6 with Martin Taylor's Freternity featuring Alison Burns, Guy Barker and David Newton. Saxophonist Snake Davis stops off at the Arts Centre on May 24 during his spring tour to promote his latest album and play old favourites.

The New Orleans Jazz Club presents a special tomorrow with the three Js of Jazz - Americans Jeff Barnhart and Jim Fryer with the UK's John Hallam. This lunchtime series continues on May 24 with Keith Stephen's Gypsy Jazz with Mike Piggott, New Orleans Heat on June 7 and the Millennium Eagle Jazz Band on July 5; box office number for all these concerts is 01325-486555.

Over at Cockerton, Darlington, the Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Travellers' Rest has the Sue Ferris Quintet on Thursday, Mark Toomey Quartet on May 29, Alison Hildreth's Quintet on June 19, Serenade in Blue on July 10 and Jazz Tones on July 31; details on 01325-469756.

The jazz series at Saltburn Community Hall continues tonight with Extreme Measures, a fivepiece band led by drummer David Carnegie. After a summer break, the series resumes with the Savannah Jazz Band on August 1; tickets available from Saltburn Health Foods, 01287-624622.

The other premiere is by Alan Barnes, supported by Teesdale Jazz Quintet, giving the first performance of Andy Honeybone's Rural Jazz Suite at the Witham, Barnard Castle, on May 17 (box office 01833-631107). Pianist with the quintet, Honeybone conceives the Suite as a back-to-roots celebration of jazz in a rural setting.

The concert will include music by Bill Evans, Kenny Garrett and others.

Finally, Barnes will appear with his Liquorice-Stick All-Sorts at Newcastle's Corner House on June 26. Featuring Barnes on clarinet, with Jim Hart vibes and Paul Clarvis drums, this is a tribute to the music of Benny Goodman; box office 0191-265-9602.

Apologies, as usual, for those we've missed, but do please contact us for future inclusion.