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