WITH visits by Ian Shaw, Clare Teal and Sheila Jordan among others, this has already been a good season for jazz singers and it looks like continuing for some time with the Sage, Gateshead presenting performances in May by two of our very best vocalists, writes Peter Bevan.

On Saturday, May 9, Norma Winstone will be accompanied by Nikki Iles and Friends, including Mike Walker, Mark Lockheart and Jeff Williams, and on Sunday, May 31, Liane Carroll will appear with pianist Brian Kellock.

In fact, the jazz programme at the Sage is flourishing again with an appearance by American guitarist John Abercrombie with the Julian Arguelles Trio on Saturday, May 2, a Celebration of Humph on Tuesday, May 5, which will feature Humph’s Band led by guest trumpet player Sue Richardson, together with the Dutch College Swing Band, surely Europe’s longest-running traditional jazz band, and on Thursday, July 9, the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival is launched by a group led by cornetist Bent Person featuring music by the young Louis Armstrong.

The Sage ticket office is on 0191-443-4661.

Returning to singers briefly, Clare Teal will be back at the Arc in Stockton on Thursday, July 2, in what I hope will be a regular series of jazz events there; tel 01642-525199.

Darlington jazz sessions continue apace with the Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Travellers’ Rest, Cockerton, presenting the Sue Ferris Quintet on May 8, Djangology on June 12 and the Noel Dennis Quartet on July 10, all Fridays. The new number for information is 01325-382676.

The New Orleans Jazz Club at Darlington Arts Centre continues its Saturday lunchtime sessions with Jeff Barnhart and John Hallam on May 2.

The modern jazz series has the Dave O’Higgins Quartet tonight, Dave Newton All Stars on Saturday, May 23, and another all-star group, led by Steve Melling and Clark Tracey, on Saturday, June 6; box office for both series is 01325-486555.

The Swaledale Festival continues to offer a good sprinkling of jazz, with the Keith Stephens Quartet plus Andy Dickens and Roger Myerscough at the Buck Hotel, Reeth, on bank holiday Monday, May 25, and an afternoon concert the next day at the CB Inn, Arkengarthdale, presenting a Farewell to Humph by the Andy Dickens Jazz Band.

There is also a solo piano recital by Gwilym Simcock at St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth, on Thursday, June 4. Booking opened this week on 01748-880019. Simcock can be heard as a member of Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio at a free lunchtime concert at King’s Hall, Newcastle University, on Thursday, April 30, and at the National Centre for Early Music in York on Tuesday, June 18, tel 01904- 658338.

Elsewhere in Newcastle, it should be well worth going to see trumpeter Ryan Quigley’s Sextet, which also features saxophonists Laura Macdonald and Paul Booth at the Corner House on Thursday, May 21, 0191-265-9602.

Other one-offs include guitarist Martin Taylor’s solo performance at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Thursday, May 21 (01388-602610), Big Idea at Saltburn Community Hall on Friday, May 1 (01287 624622), and the brilliant New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher at the National Centre for Early Music in York on Tuesday June 2, with his Django a la Créole, their only date in the area this season.

Finally, the Studio in Hartlepool is maintaining its jazz programme with regular Sunday lunchtime jazz from big band Musicians Unlimited (not April 19, though). On Tuesday, April 28, there’s a memorial concert for saxophonist Bryn Collinson, who died in December, featuring Musicians Unlimited, White Negroes and Jazzoozy, and on May 28, Mick Donnelly’s Quintet plus Sara D will appear, 01429-424440.

Apologies if we’ve missed anyone out, but if you’d like to send us details, we will try to include them in future listings.