THE jazz programme is beginning to develop again across the region after a relatively quiet January, writes Peter Bevan.

The regular monthly slot at the Arc in Stockton sees one of our finest tenor saxophone players, Lewis Watson, making one of several appearances in the area on March 14 with his quartet, followed by singer, Jacqui Dankworth on April 2 (box office 01642 525199).

Over at Middlesbrough Theatre, the Big Chris Barber Band returns on March 20 and Terry Lightfoot's Jubilee Tour visits there on May 8 (01642 815181). The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has a single jazz date with Andy Cooper's Euro Top 8, an awkward name, perhaps, for an all-star group which includes Mike Cotton, John Barnes, Pasquale Michaux and Nick Millward (01748 825252).

Soweto Kinch is at Harrogate Theatre on March 18 (01423 562303).

Over in Hartlepool, where the Studio keeps the jazz flag flying, you can see the Sue Ferris Quintet on March 3, the Snake Davis Band two days later and trumpeter Harry Beckett with the Adam Dennis Trio on March 26 (01429 424440), while in Bishop Auckland, jazz is concentrated on Saturday, March 5, with another jazz workshop for melodic instrumentalists running from 10am-4pm.

Tutors are John Warren, Keith Norris and Lewis Watson; you can get more information from Jazz Action on 01642 805016 or book one of only 15 places available on 01388 602610.

In the evening, Lewis Watson is joined by fellow tenor player Don Weller for a concert at 8pm. Watson, just to complete his busy week, will also be at the Corner House in Newcastle, this time with Alan Barnes, on March 9 (0191 265 9602).

In Darlington, the flourishing Opus 4 jazz Club at the Travellers' Rest, Cockerton, continues next Friday with the Mick Shoulder Quintet featuring Graham Hardy and (as you might have guessed) Lewis Watson, then the Rick Simpson Trio on March 18, Dougie Pugh's Quintet on April 1, the Sue Ferris Quintet on April 22 and Paul Donnelly's Trio on May 27; details on 01325 486177.

At the arts centre, the Saturday lunchtime series continues with Keith Stephen's Gypsy Jazz featuring violinist Mike Piggot on March 5, and the Dave Donohoe band on April 2, while the modern jazz nights series features singer Lee Gibson with Alan Barnes and John Horler tonight, Tommy Smith and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra in a programme of music by Stan Kenton on March 4 and Tim Richard's Great Spirit on April 8. The planned concert by Steve Melling's Band on May 13 has had to be rearranged and in its place will be the Scott Hamilton Quintet featuring Mark Nightingale 01423 562303. There's an additional concert by jazz funk organist, James Taylor's Quartet, on Thursday (01423 562303). The garden bar jazz club will announce more dates soon.

Finally, it's nice to see that the new Sage Music Centre in Gateshead is honouring its commitment to jazz with regular concerts and a festival. Huw Warren's Hundreds of Things a Boy Can Make, featuring Mark Feldman and Martin France is on Thursday, Gary Husband's Force Majeure with Randy Brecker and Jerry Goodman on March 8.

The first Gateshead International Jazz Festival runs from March 18-20; artists include McCoy Tyner with John Surman, Celtic Feet and Brian Kellock, Evan Parker and Stan Tracey, Andy Sheppard, Nils Petter Molvaer, EST, Jazz Jamaica, Courtney Pine, Henri Texier, Claire Martin and Ian Shaw; details from the Sage on 0870 7034555