JUNE 2022

Hello everyone – here’s what we’ve got lined up for you in the coming month. We’re so excited about these gigs, so please keep showing your support and tell all your friends. The poster is below, and scroll down for info and tickets.

If any of them would like to join this newsletter, send them to jazzattheoxfordtavern.com/about. It also helps us when you tag us in videos or posts to social media, so please continue to do that: instagram @jazzattheoxford and facebook.com/jazzattheoxfordtavern/.

6th June – Nat Steele

Nat Steele – Vibraphone

Matyas Gayer – Piano

Dario Di Lecce – Bass

Mark Taylor – Drums

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/548165/

Nat Steele brings his new quartet to the Oxford, featuring the talents of Mark Taylor on drums, recently returned to these shores after a 25-year long stint in New York, with the award-winning young pianist Matyas Gayer and long time associate from his MJQ band Dario Di Lecce on double bass. They play a winning mix of straight ahead, swinging standards and jazz compositions.

Nat is a jazz vibraphone player based in London. In 2017 he launched his debut album, “Portrait of the Modern Jazz Quartet” on Trio Records, with a sold-out album release concert held at Ronnie Scott’s, followed by 2 years of touring the UK with the quartet. The album was awarded “Jazz Album of the Month” by BBC Music Magazine, with a plethora of positive reviews in the jazz press, including 4 stars in The Observer and Jazzwise Magazine. It even made it into the top 10 in the jazz charts in Japan. In 2019 he was invited by Grammy-award winning pianist, arranger and composer Alan Broadbent to give the world premier of a new work celebrating the 25th anniversary of Watermill Jazz. In 2020 – just before the pandemic – he completed an 18-date Arts Council funded tour of the UK with the MJQ band featuring guest tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart, who came from New York for 2 weeks to play.

As well as working as a performer, Nat has been very actively involved in promoting jazz and founded a jazz festival, BopFest, in 2015 with saxophonist Allison Neale. The annual festival, initially just long weekend, has grown into a 7-day long extravaganza of bebop and straight ahead jazz in London featuring some of the best musicians from the UK, Europe and America, with the festival attracting both private and Arts Council funding and getting significant audience numbers and press attention.

He’s currently working on two new albums which should come out in 2023.

13th June – Michelangelo Scandroglio and Alex Hitchcock

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/548167/

Michelangelo Scandroglio — Bass

Alex Hitchcock — Tenor Saxophone

Rachael Cohen — Alto Saxophone

Jay Davis — Drums

Saxophonist Alex Hitchcock has put together this special gig featuring a leading voice on the Italian Jazz scene.

Michelangelo Scandroglio is a bass player based in Italy who has studied with (amongst others) Joe Sanders, Harish Raghavan, Ben Street and Ben Wendel. At the age of twenty he was one of the winners of the Riga International Jazz Bass Competition, and was subsequently invited by Adam Yuang Hong to play at Beijing Jazz Festival.

Other accolades and awards have come from Veneto’s “Tomorrow’s Jazz”, Umbria Jazz’s Conad Jazz Contest, Musica Jazz, and “AIR”, organized and financed by the Italian Jazz Association (MIDJ) and MIBACT (Italian Ministery of Culture Activity), a program which consisted in a one month artistic residency in Lima ( Perù). 

In 2020 he released “In the Eyes of the Whale” his first album as a leader on Auand Records, featuring as a very special guest the international jazz star Logan Richardson. This album allowed him to win the “Nuova generazione”, a program financed and promoted by MiBAC ( Italian Ministery of Culture activity), I-JAZZ and SIAE, which resulted in a tour of the major festivals in Europe and around the world.

His playing CV includes such heavyweights as Logan Richardson, Glenn Ferris, Ben van Gelder, Marvin “Bugalu” Smith, Alex Sipiagin, Gregory Hutchinson and Seamus Blake.

20th June – Xhosa Cole Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/548169/

Xhosa Cole – Tenor Saxophone
Steve Saunders – Guitar
Josh Vadiveloo – Bass
Nathan England-Jones – Drums

Winner of the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year, Xhosa Cole is an embodiment of the success of numerous community arts programmes in Birmingham including the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, Jazzlines Ensemble and Birmingham Music Service. Having grown up in Handsworth and first played the Tenor at Andy Hamilton’s Ladywood Community Music School, he’s now among a long legacy of Birmingham Saxophonists including Soweto Kinch and Shabaka Hutchings. Xhosa has performed twice at the BBC Proms, Composed music for the Ripieno Players, a Birmingham Based String Orchestra, recorded saxophone for Mahalia’s debut album ‘Love and Compromise’, completed a 22 date UK tour, all along side his studies as a scholar at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Xhosa Also received the Parliamentary Jazz Award for ‘Best Newcomer’ in 2019 and Jazz FM ‘Breakthrough act of the year’.

Xhosa’s earliest memories of the arts are with ACE Youth Dance group. However, since playing in Holyhead School’s Jazz band with Ray Prince and Sid Peacock he decided to pursue music and joined the Jazzlines Ensemble, Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra among others. Xhosa attended courses with the National Youth Jazz Collective and National Youth Wind Orchestra. He is now finishing his degree in Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London alongside a wide spectrum of work writing and performing across the UK. in 2019 Xhosa received the Parliamentary Jazz award for ‘Best Newcomer”.

27th June – FORJ

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/548171

Joe Wright – Tenor saxophone
Josh Arcoleo – Tenor saxophone
Nick Jurd – Double Bass
Jonathan Silk – Drums

Forj is an exciting quartet led by drummer Jonathan Silk, featuring the critically acclaimed and long time friend and collaborator, Nick Jurd on double bass alongside the incredible musicianship of two of London’s finest improvisers, Joe Wright and Josh Arcoleo on tenor saxophones. This band promises high octane grooves and expansive improvisation across a whole series of original compositions. Forj attempt to bridge the gap between chaos and purpose. With original compositions as a framework, the band move to reshape what the music is at every outing. With improvisation at the heart of the ensemble, every performance is a new experience. Performing a rocky, but subtle, set of intricate grooves and diverse melodies, Forj blur the lines between composition and improvisation in a highly interactive manner in this exciting chordless ensemble.

Debut release Skirfare was released in February 2021, only available through their dedicated album builder on the Forj website. Their latest album Our Space is to be released April 2022 and is available through the FORJ bandcamp.

“An excellent addition to the Birmingham scene” – Tony Dudley-Evans (UK)
“Forj’s set was a wild, muscular delight” – London Jazz News (UK)
“devilishly tight” – London Jazz News (UK)

May 2022

Poster below, biogs and ticket links below that!

Hello everyone – I hope you’ve all enjoyed the sunny bank holiday weekend! Here’s what we have coming up in May (plus a reminder of the wonderful last gig in April.) Your support means so much, and please tell all your friends! And feast your eyes on the treats we have in store for you…

2nd May – Kourosh Kanani Trio

www.wegottickets.com/event/544794/

Kourosh Kanani – Guitar

Matt Davies – Drums

Dave O’Brien – Bass

Since their first album release in September 2021, the Kourosh Kanani trio have gained international recognition as one of the most unique guitar trios currently working.

The music is steeped in Persian folk and the intricate rhythm systems of south India, and, being combined with improvisation and jazz, forms an intense progressive rock feel.

The new trio have been playing concerts around London and recently made a special appearance on MBCPersia with tour dates underway.

The magical Chemistry between the musicians creates a spell-binding dynamic, bringing the pilgrimatic compositional style of Kanani to immense life.

9th May – Swing You Sinners

www.wegottickets.com/event/544796/

Special Guest (TBC) – clarinet

George Crowley – tenor sax

Sam Wooster – trumpet

Andrew Woodhead – piano

Nick Jurd – double bass

Jeff Williams – drums

Andrew Woodhead and friends present a 21st Century Improviser’s take on the music of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Cab Calloway, inspired by the dark, surreal rotoscoping of Fleischer Studios’ cartoons. This is also a great chance to catch up with the incredible tenor player George Crowley, whose long history with the Oxford our more experienced regulars will remember well.

16th May – Will Arnold-Forster 

www.wegottickets.com/event/544799/

Will Arnold-Forster – Guitar

Joe Webb – Piano

Dario Di Lecce – Bass

Steve Brown – Drums

Will Arnold-Forster is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A recipient of the Yamaha Jazz Scholarship, he has performed across the country and in all of London’s major jazz venues, including Ronnie Scott’s The Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall & The Barbican Center. Tonight he leads a quartet comprising long term collaborators Joe Webb (piano), Steve Brown (drums) and Dario Di Lecce (double bass) to perform compositions written by/associated with the great Jim Hall.

As many of you will know, Will is also responsible for the past few years of excellent programming here at the Oxford. We are delighted to welcome him back to play with this really special band.

23rd May – Jonny Mansfield Quintet

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/544823

Jonny Mansfield – Vibraphone

Dominic Ingham – Violin

Rob Luft – Guitar

Will Sach – Bass

Dave Hamblett – Drums

Jonny Mansfield is an award-winning percussionist and composer. He has worked with international artists such as Chris Potter, Orlando Weeks and Yazz Ahmed, performing worldwide. He released his debut album ‘Elftet’ on Edition Records after being awarded the Kenny Wheeler Prize in 2018 as well as being nominated for Ivors Novello composition awards for large jazz ensemble.

His quintet features strings and percussion to create rich textures that allow for familiar folk-like melodies to guide the listener through sonic landscapes. Influences are drawn from Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen, Scottish fiddler Aiden O’Rouke and Chilean guitarist Camilla Meza.

‘Strikingly original music’ – Jazzwise.

‘Jonny Mansfield, whose incredible relaxed demeanor belied the quite mystifying way he managed to make this complex instrument sing.’ – London Jazz News.

‘Really beautiful music.’ – Jorge Rossy

‘A musical vision beyond his years.’ – Evan Parker

30th May – Aisling Lavelle

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/544825/

Aisling Lavelle – Voice

George Crowley – Tenor Saxophone

Nick Costley-White – Guitar

This is a new trio exploring a selection of beautiful well and lesser known songs from the post-50s Brazilian repertoire. Aisling grew up on a healthy diet of straight-ahead jazz and fell in love with improvising at an early age thanks to singers like Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan and British jazz legend Tina May.  After studying Portuguese, she developed a love of Tom Jobim’s music, Chico Buarque’s lyrics and Elis Regina’s voice, all of whom have heavily influenced this project.

‘mature, confident and highly musical personality‘ – Jazzwise

APRIL 2022

Poster below, newsletter, lineups, ticket links below that!

Happy April, everyone! The year rolls on and we are looking forward to bringing more great artists to the Oxford this month. As always, we and the artists appreciate all your support and the great vibe you bring to the gigs. 

Incredible bands, a perfect acoustic space and an enthusiastic, knowledgeable audience form a sort of tripartite ‘chicken-and-egg’ cycle that sustains this special night. We here at HQ feel lucky to be part of it. Keep telling your friends and spreading the word! Without further ado, here’s what’s coming up in April.

4th April – Felix Rossy Quintet

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/542747

Felix Rossy — Trumpet

Alex Hitchcock — Saxophone

Ivo Neame — Piano

Misha Mullov-Abbado — Bass

Marc Michel — Drums

The first gig of April features an all-star pan-European quintet led by trumpeter Felix Rossy, son of revered drummer Jorge Rossy (Brad Mehldau) and already a renowned musician in his own right, performing across Europe including at Loft Club Köln, Ronnie Scotts, and Sunset Sunside Paris, and in the US (Smalls, Jazz Gallery NYC to name a couple). The rest of this exciting group comprises the acclaimed saxophonist and composer Alex Hitchcock, acclaimed composer and pianist Ivo Neame, acclaimed composer and bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, and acclaimed drummer Marc Michel. There aren’t enough synonyms for ‘acclaimed’, and there isn’t much else to say – don’t miss it.

11th April – Miguel Gorodi quintet feat. Nathaniel Facey

Tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/542749                

Miguel Gorodi – Trumpet

Nathaniel Facey – Alto

Alcyona Mick – Piano

Calum Gourlay – Double Bass

Will Glaser – Drums 

Miguel is a trumpet player and composer performing across a broad spectrum of jazz and improvised music. He released his debut album Apophenia in 2019, showcasing his compositions for nonet; “Skilled, consistently interesting & colourful compositions & arrangements are combined with exceptional playing, both individually & collectively, to produce music that both fascinates and excites” (Ian Mann, thejazzmann.com).

Miguel has put together a new quintet of musicians that will be very familiar to most fans of jazz in the UK. Nathaniel Facey, Alcyona Mick, Calum Gourlay and Will Glaser are incredible musicians who share a passion for the jazz tradition and can express the music in their own individual styles. For their inaugural performance the quintet will be performing compositions by some of their shared influences including Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy. 

18th April – Riley Stone-Lonergan

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/542752

Riley Stone-Lonergan – Tenor saxophone

John Williamson – Double Bass

Dave Ingamells – Drums

Unfortunately FORJ have had to pull out due to illness, but will be back at the end of June. We do however have a massive treat in their stead – one of our absolute favourite musicians in the form of tenor saxophone hero Riley Stone-Lonergan. Many of you will have seen Riley before, either at the Oxford or elsewhere, but if you haven’t he’s a genuine force of nature, and in my mind one of the most heartfelt and moving improvisers in the country. He’ll be playing with John Williamson and Dave Ingamells.

25th April – Georgia Mancio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/542756

Georgia Mancio — Voice

Kate Williams — Piano

Julie Walkington — Bass

Dave Ohm — Drums

Multi award-winning jazz vocalist, lyricist and producer, Georgia Mancio, is a supreme storyteller, creating work of both beauty and bite. A deeply authentic communicator for our times, Georgia’s invoking performances transport the listener and linger long in the mind. Her copious industry acknowledgements include consecutive wins at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards: Best Vocalist (2021) and Best Album (Finding Home, 2020), and several nominations at the Jazz FM, British Jazz and Urban Music Awards.

Her revered partnership with Grammy-winning pianist/composer, Alan Broadbent, has yielded two albums (Quiet Is The Star, Songbook), a book (The Songs of Alan Broadbent and Georgia Mancio) and performances across Europe and the US, including Ronnie Scott’s and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“[Mancio] has everything covered – technical mastery, expressive range and a remarkable versatility” — The Observer, 4*

“Impossible not to fall in love with her voice… a magnificent example of strength and talent” — Jazz in Europe

March 2022


Poster below, newsletter and tickets further below!

MARCH 2022

Monday 7th March – Deschanel Gordon

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/539273/

Deschanel Gordon – Piano

Will Sach – Bass

Will Cleasby – Drums

Since graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, BBC Young Jazz Musician winner 2020 Deschanel Gordon is already making huge waves. One of the brightest prospects of his generation, he has worked with the likes of Mark Kavuma, Cassie Kinoshi’s SEED Ensemble and US-born singer Judi Jackson. Tonight he leads a trio including two of London’s most in-demand rhythm section players, Will Sach and Will Cleasby.

He has performed at many of London’s best-known jazz venues, including the 606 Club, Ronnie’s Scott’s, the Jazz Café, the Barbican and Cadogan Hall. He has also traveled widely, playing at jazz festivals in Europe and the USA, including Moods in Zurich, New York’s Winter Jazz Festival, Jazz TM in Romania and Fasching in Sweden. 

“the piano man to watch…Deschanel Gordon” 

London Jazz News

“Deschanel Gordon…a player of immense stature with a seemingly unending stream of ideas…simply jaw dropping” 

Sussex Jazz Magazine 

Monday 14th March – Jo Harrop

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/539152/

Jo Harrop – Vocals

Jamie McCredie – Guitar

Jihad Darwish – Bass 

After moving to London, Jo Harrop quickly established herself as one of the most unmistakable voices in British jazz, performing everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to the Sunset Sunside Jazz Club in Paris.

Having signed to London-based jazz label, Lateralize Records, she recently received a raft of rapturous reviews for Weathering The Storm, her debut with guitarist Jamie McCredie. Effortlessly blurring the lines between jazz and folk, the Guardian dubbed it “a little gem of an album: simple, modest and perfect,” whilst BBC 6 Music’s Iggy Pop fell in love with her voice, calling her “a very fine jazz singer.” Warm, smoky and capable of the most delicate dynamics, Jo Harrop’s mellifluous voice reveals an intimacy few singers are capable of generating.

Monday 21st March – Nick Costley-White Quartet

Ticket link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/539154/

Nick Costley-White – Guitar

Ivo Neame – Piano

Conor Chaplin – Bass

James Maddren – Drums

Nick Costley-White is one of the most in demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene, renowned for a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and repertoire, alongside a virtuosic technique and progressive approach to improvising. Here he leads his “New Quartet” featuring the fearless and virtuosic piano playing of Phronesis pianist Ivo Neame, supported by the inventive and swinging rhythm section of double bassist Conor Chaplin (Marius Neset, Laura Jurd) and drummer James Maddren (ENEMY, Gwilym Simcock). The quartet perform new compositions by Nick which draw on the melodic and rhythmic counterpoint of classic 60s Blue Note Jazz as well as Brazilian influences from the likes of Hermeto Pascoal and Jacob Do Bandolim recontextualised in an open, fluid improvisational environment.

“I was struck by the sheer presence and melodic heft and ease of Nick Costley-White’s playing. The ideas flow naturally, the sound is gorgeous, there’s just nothing missing”  Sebastian Scotney, London Jazz News

Monday 28th March – Chris Maddock Quartet

Ticket link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/539157/

Chris Maddock – Saxophone

Tobie Carpenter – Guitar

Liam Dunachie – Organ

Ed Richardson – Drums

Chris Maddock is a superb young saxophonist, arranger and composer based in London, currently making quite the name for himself on the UK jazz circuit. Having landed a spot on Birmingham Conservatoire’s prestigious jazz course, he won the Mike Gibbs/BBC Big Band composition & arranging prize. After graduating, he was awarded the Yamaha Scholarship for outstanding jazz musicians and has been a sought-after sideman and bandleader ever since, performing countless shows at the UK’s most prestigious jazz venues. Chris and his quartet (Liam Dunachie-organ; Tobie Carpenter-gtr and Ed Richardson-drums) will be promoting their brand new album The Hunt, released on Ubuntu Music in October. This current project offers a contemporary, groovy take on the classic Hammond organ trio line-up, augmented with saxophone – sure to be a thrilling set from some masterful young musicians.

“…a lovely lyrical player who can also turn up the heat” The Jazz Breakfast

“Saxophonist-composer Chris Maddock’s take on the traditional tenor sax-Hammond quartet…has a youthful, contemporary energy” Jazzwise

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

Welcome back everyone!

We hope you’ve all had a good Christmas and New Year, and we’re excited to have some great music lined up for you over the next month. Firstly – a slight change of faces at Jazz at the Oxford HQ as we say a massive thank you to Will Arnold-Foster for all the amazing work he’s done over the last few years. We all love you Will! We (John Williamson and David Ferris) can’t wait to get to know all of you and if we do half as good a job as Will did then we’ll be very happy! Here’s what we’ve got in store for you:

Monday 31st January – David Ferris/John J Williamson featuring Sam Braysher

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/536803/

Sam Braysher – Alto Saxophone

David Ferris – Piano

John J Williamson – Bass

Will Cleasby – Drums

For our first gig back we’re joined by the amazing Sam Braysher on alto, alongside Will Cleasby on drums. In addition to performing with the leading lights of the London jazz scene, Sam has won widespread acclaim for collaborating with musicians of international renown on his two albums as a bandleader.

“I can’t think of another alto saxophonist with a sound quite like Sam Braysher’s” Dave Gelly, the Observer

Monday 7th February – Djangada

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/536805/

Sam Watts – Piano

Matheus Nova – Bass

Marcinho Pereira – Drums

Djangada play Brazilian music with a jazz piano trio sound and approach, performing their own arrangements of Brazilian classics. The focus is particularly on composers from Bahia, including Gilberto Gil and Dorival Caymmi. The trio has worked together as the rhythm section for various Brazilian bands in the past but this is their first outing as a trio.

Monday 14th February – Josephine Davies Trio

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/536807/

Josephine Davies – Saxophone

Dave Whitford – Bass

Gene Calderazzo – Drums

Saxophonist Josephine Davies, winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Award for best instrumentalist, and known for her original and dynamic trio ‘Satori’, brings another fantastic band for tonight’s performance, featuring drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Dave Whitford.

Monday 21st February – Soul Time! Steve Fishwick/Leon Greening quartet play the music of Bobby Timmons

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/536809/

Steve Fishwick – Trumpet

Leon Greening – Piano

Matyas Hofecker – Bass

Matt Home – Drums

SoulTime! is a new and exciting jazz quartet co-led by renowned pianist Leon Greening and exceptional trumpeter Steve Fishwick. Rounding out the top-flight rhythm section is Matt Home on drums and Matyas Hofecker on double bass. The group is dedicated to exploring the music of one of their musical heroes, pianist, and composer Bobby Timmons. Timmons was an important influence on the music in the late 1950s and early 60s. His contribution to the Hard-Bop and Soul-Jazz styles is often overlooked in the jazz history books. The success of groups such as Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and The Cannonball Adderley Quintet wouldn’t have been possible without hits that were penned by Bobby, including ‘This Here’, ‘Dat Dere’, ‘Moanin’, and many more. This group is committed to presenting the music in the spirit in which it was originally created, with plenty of melody, soul, and down-home grooves.

“Leon Greening epitomises the assured confidence of a new generation” Jazz Journal

“Steve has his own style. He plays from the bottom to the top of the horn whilst maintaining the integrity of the chords. I can’t think of another trumpeter who can do what he does!” Wynton Marsalis

Monday 28th February – Pete Horsfall Quintet

Ticket link: www.wegottickets.com/event/536811/

Pete Horsfall – trumpet

Giacomo Smith – alto saxophone

Joe Webb – piano

Ferg Ireland – bass

Will Cleasby – drums

Pete Horsfall is an acclaimed trumpet player, vocalist and songwriter based in the UK.

His latest album Nighthawks received critical acclaim, including a four star review in the Guardian. Described by All About Jazz as ‘one of the year’s most original releases’, the record was featured on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM.

Pete performs as a soloist at many prestigious venues and festivals throughout the world. These include The Lincoln Center (NYC), Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Sunset/Sunside (Paris), The Royal Albert Hall, North Sea Jazz Festival (NDL), the Cadogan Hall, London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the Southbank Centre, La Spezia Jazz Festival (IT) and many more.

He has also played trumpet and flugelhorn for pop & hip-hop groups including DJ Premier, De La Soul, Friendly Fires. DJ IQ and many others.

In addition to leading his own solo projects, you can find Pete playing regularly with Kansas Smitty’s Big Four, vocalist and broadcaster Clare Teal, and Guy Barker. He also leads the highly respected traditional jazz ensemble Basin Street Brawlers.

May Newsletter:

Dear all,

as April draws to a close, we’ve yet another fabulous programme of monday night jazz coming up for you in May at the Oxford Tavern, here’s what’s on the horizon…
 

6th May: Leon Greening 

Hard swinging pianist Leon Greening brings his world class quintet to The Oxford to kick things off on the 6th May. Featuring some of London and New York’s finest, Nat Steele (vibraphone), Colin Oxley (guitar), Adam King (double bass) and special guest Mark Taylor (drums) – this gig will mark the end of their spring tour, as they perform their interpretations of lesser-known hardbop selections from the jazz cannon. 

’This was a highly engaging evening of classic hard bop with some incredible original material from Leon Greening, surely one of the UKs finest pianists,’ 

Charlie Anderson, sussexjazzmag.com
 

13th May: David Ingamells 


David Ingamells has established himself as one of the most versatile jazz drummers of his generation. He performs regularly at all the major jazz clubs and venues in the UK and will be joined this evening in trio by visiting New York based pianist JinJoo Yoo and bassist Simon Read. 

“Irrepressible, Purist Fun From an Important, Individualistic New Voice in Jazz Piano”

New York Music Daily 
 

20th May: Giacomo Smith 


Internationally renowned virtuoso saxophonist Giacomo Smith – founding member of the hugely successful Kansas Smitty’s House Band – brings his quartet to The Oxford on the 20th May. One of the finest players of his generation, any chance to see Giacomo play is not to be missed…
 

27th May: Matyas Gayer 


Hungarian pianist Matyas Gayer closes our May programme, bringing his trio comprising Matt Home (drums) and Jeremy Brown (Bass) to The Oxford on the 27th May to perform selections from his critically acclaimed debut album ’Never Ending Story’ amongst other arrangements of his own from the Great American Songbook. 


As always you can find us in the upstairs function room at our favourite pub, The Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town. Doors open at 8pm, music from 8:30. £8/£5 concessions on the door. 

We look forward to seeing you at one of our May dates and thank you for your support so far. 

Best Wises,

Jazz at The Oxford

April Newsletter:

Dear Friends,

We’ve had a particularly special month of music here at Jazz at The Oxford. As ever though, we look forward to April, the arrival of spring and five more Monday nights packed full of London’s finest jazz musicians at The Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town.

1st April:

At the rhythmic epicentre of a new era of innovative British jazz sits percussionist and composer Corrie Dick. Lauded for his fluency, touch and euphoric abandon at the drum kit, we greatly look forward to hearing his ‘impossible dreams’ sextet as they debut an evening of brand new material before going into the studio later on in the month. The band features 6 of London’s heaviest improvisers and is not to be missed.

‘Remarkably mature and moving songwriting’ (Splinter Jazz) 

‘Fluent, supportive on drums, also produced the compoisitonal highlight of the evening, the emotional corner-stone of the set. I can’t wait to hear it again’ (London Jazz News) 

Alice Zawadzki – voice/violin
Laura Jurd – trumpet
Joe Wright – saxophone
Rob Luft – guitar
Tom McCredie – bass
Corrie Dick – drums

8th April:

In-demand pianist Liam Dunachie brings his swinging piano trio comprising Tim Thornton (double bass) and David Ingamells (drums) to the Oxford on the 8thApril. Expect an evening of slick arrangements of lesser-known selections from the jazz cannon and Great American Songbook performed on our beautiful new upright piano.

15th April:

Award-winning Tenor Saxophonist Mark Crooks, a soloist in the acclaimed John Wilson Orchestra, performs in his regular working quartet alongside world-class guitarist Colin Oxley, Matt Fishwick (drums) and Connor Chaplin (double bass). Mark is a supremely melodic improviser and joined by his tight-knit group of accomplished musicians is not to be missed.

‘Mark Crooks…exceptional’ (BBC)

22nd April:

Fresh from a 3-month stint on the road with Adrian Cox’s ‘profoundly blue’ project, Simon Read’s double-bass lead trio comprises three of London’s most prodigiously talented young musicians, Simon Read (double-bass) Joe Webb (piano) and Gethin Jones (drums). The trio comes to The Oxford on the 22ndApril to perform their unique arrangements of material from The Great American songbook alongside selections from their recently recorded album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PfqIciRzQk

29th April:

Saxophonist Alex Hitchcock is joined by three of the UK’s most acclaimed improvising musicians in Will Barry (piano), Fergus Ireland (bass) and Shane Forbes (drums). The group were the winners of the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in 2018 and are debuting original material over two consecutive nights in south and north London, fresh from recording at Konk Studios in April.

‘[The debut CD] highlights the already much-admired eloquence of his playing, his striking compositions and his fine collaborators. An impressive calling card for a band with a bright future’ (John Fordham, Jazzwise) 

As always you can find us in the upstairs function room at our favourite pub, The Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town. Doors open at 8pm, music from 8:30. £8/£5 concessions on the door. 

We look forward to seeing you at one of our April dates and thank you for your support so far. 

Best Wises,
Jazz at The Oxford 

March 4th, Dave Archer Quartet

Thanks to all who came down to see Dave Archer’s quartet last week at The Oxford, featuring Dave on guitar, Joe Webb (organ), Giacomo Smith (saxophone) and Matt Skelton (drums). The band sounded fantastic and you can hear a short clip of them playing Oscar Moore/Nat Cole’s ‘Beautiful Moons ago’ in the instagram video to the side.

Tomorrow evening (11th March) we welcome double bassist Dario Di’Lecce and his hard-swinging trio to The Oxford, comprising Dario, Gabriel Latchin (piano) and Josh Morrison (drums). Come down and celebrate the arrival of our beautiful new piano as the trio perform material from their upcoming record ‘The Moon and I’.