What's on

Thursday, Oct 25: Paul Skerritt Band, The Pennyweight, Darlington (8pm)

Friday, Oct 26: Hot Club du Nord, Scarth Hall, Staindrop (7.30pm)

Saturday, Oct 27: Gilded Thieves, Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle (9pm)

Sunday, Oct 28: Tees Valley Jazzmen, The Ship, Redmarshall (6pm), Just Friends, Quakerhouse, Darlington (6pm)

Monday, Oct 29: Jazz in the Afternoon, Cullercoats Crescent Club (1pm)

Tuesday, Oct 30: Jam session, Black Swan, Newcastle (8pm)

Wednesday, Oct 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Cullercoats Crescent Club (1pm)

Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party begins a week tomorrow (Nov 2) at the Village Hotel, North Tyneside. Musicians from America and Europe join forces with some of Britain's finest exponents of the 'classic' jazz era in a series of themed concerts focussing on the early decades of the twentieth century. The participation of several world class young musicians - including drummer Josh Duffee (US), trumpeters Mike Davis (US) and Malo Mazurié (France), together with Britain's Ewan Bleach (reeds) and violinist Emma Fisk - alongside experienced practitioners such as pianist Keith Nichols and first time visitor from America, Dan Levinson (reeds), confirms the Classic Jazz Party as the pre-eminent festival of its type this side of the Atlantic. Ticket details of the three day festival from: wbjazzfest@btinternet.com