Jazz @ The Oxford

This week at Jazz at The Oxford, we’re delighted to welcome the legendary drummer Jeff Williams; Jeff has been a regular feature at The Oxford with multiple groups over the past few years (when he hasn’t been in NYC), so it’s a particular treat to be able to welcome him with his own UK band, featuring some of the most amazing players on the scene!

Jeff Williams Quintet

Jeff Williams – drums / compositions

Finn Peters – alto sax, flute

Josh Arcoleo – tenor sax

Phil Robson – guitar

Sam Lasserson – double bass

In a career spanning four decades drummer Jeff Williams’ musical associates have included Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman and Lookout Farm, Joe Lovano, Paul Bley, Bill McHenry, Ethan Iverson, Tony Malaby, and many more. During the 1990′s Jeff performed with his own quintet and released two CDs of original compositions:  Coalescence  (SteepleChase) and  Jazzblues  (Cathexis).
  Since 2007 he has been based both in New York and London. In the UK Jeff has performed with Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, and has toured with McHenry, Konitz, the Phil Robson/Dave Liebman Quartet, and Martin Speake’s  Change of Heart  (with Bobo Stenson). Jeff has also collaborated with The Hans Koller Quartet, Sextet and Big Band, Mike Gibbs Big Band, Nikki Iles, Kit Downes, Alex Merritt and Barry Green.

While Jeff’s New York Quartet (with John O’Gallagher, Duane Eubanks and John Hebert) has been the centre of international acclaim following his downbeat nominated record Another Time (a live album of the Quartet is coming next month from  Whirlwind Recordings), his UK band has been blowing away audiences over the past few years, featuring as it does some of the most thrilling and versatile musicians the UK has to offer; this gig should be a very special one indeed!

“Any chance to hear Jeff Williams’ supple rhythmic flow is surely a treat.”  K. Leander Williams, Time Out New York

As ever doors at 8:30, music from 9; entry only £5

See you there!

After a blistering start to our May programme last week, we’re a little more than excited to welcome bassist and composer Jeff Spencer and his ensemble Crocodile! This will be rather special…

Crocodile

Jeff Spencer – bass / compositions

Gareth Lockrane – flute

Reuben Fowler – trumpet / flugel

Laura Jurd – trumpet / flugel

James Gardiner-Bateman – alto sax

Josh Arcoleo – tenor sax

George Crowley – tenor sax / clarinet

Kieran McLeod – trombone

Callum Au – bass trombone

Alex Munk – guitar

Elliot Galvin – piano

Hugh Wilkinson – percussion

Dave Hamblett – drums

As well as completing a Masters in composition, currently studying for a PhD in composition, writing for television and playing with the likes of Pee Wee Ellis, Elliot Randall, the Resonation Big Band and Joe Wright’s Nightjar (to name but a few), Jeff Spencer also finds time to lead and write for an extended and pretty stellar ensemble…

This will be  a rare outing for this band, with two sets of original compositions exploring the edges of the jazz planet. Expect a tapestry of sounds, with influences as diverse as Krzysztof Pendercki, Jerry Goldsmith and grooves from around the globe.

If that doesn’t wet the proverbial appetite (along with the lineup, which Jeff describes as being akin to ‘a garage full of Ferraris’) then you might just be beyond our help.

It’s often said, but rarely more literally meant – get there early for a good seat.

As ever, doors at 8:30, music from 9; entry a paltry £5.

Come and join the Crocodile!

Kicking off a particularly exciting May programme at Jazz at The Oxford, we’re delighted to welcome this amazing trio, lead by guitarist Anton Hunter!

Anton Hunter Trio

Anton Hunter – guitar

James Adolpho – bass

Johnny Hunter – drums

Anton Hunter is a jazz guitarist living in Manchester, though for him jazz ranges from processing canvas sounds in performance-art trio Takahashi’s Shellfish Concern to ambient soundscapes and skronky riffs in his quartet HAQ as well as playing in – and occasionally writing for – the electronics-meets-brass of theEuropean Young Jazz Award winning Beats & Pieces Big Band.  Improvisation is at the core of everything he does and in 2007 he formed free-improvisation organisation The Noise Upstairs.  Initially a meeting place and jam session for improvisers, it has grown to include events in Manchester and Sheffield, regular workshops on a range of subjects and a small record label.

This gig sees Anton with his trio on the final date of a UK tour celebrating their new record which was released only days ago. Joined by bassist James Adolpho and his brother Johnny on drums, the trio plays Anton’s original pieces, making fascinating music which draws on influences as diverse as Bill Frisell and also bands such as Tortoise.

“…debut at this year’s Manchester Jazz Festival got everyone talking” Band On The Wall

“signs of real writing talent in guitarist Anton Hunter; his spiky melodic style and heavy riffs reminiscent of John Zorn’s early downtown groups.” Chris Ackerley The Sound Of Now

It will be a special treat to be able to welcome these incredible musicians – don’t miss it!

As ever, doors at 8:30, music from 9; entry only £5.

See you there!

This week we’re excited to welcome another fantastic pianist and composer and a brand new group as we play host to two sets of beautiful original music from Tsivi Sharett and her band!

Tsivi Sharett Group

Tsivi Sharett – piano / compositions

Reuben Fowler – trumpet / flugelhorn

Huw V Williams – double bass

Jay Davis – drums / percussion

Born in Israel and currently based in London , Tsivi enjoys a diverse career as a composer, arranger and a pianist, regularly performing throughout London’s most revered live venues such as the Jazz café, the South Bank Festival and more. Her music combines jazz sensibilities with strong influences from world musics, creating colourful and multi-layered pieces, from rhythmic interplay to meditative pieces and much more besides.

This is the first gig for a brand new band, where Tsivi is joined by Reuben Fowler, the Kenny Wheeler Prize Winning trumpeter who has turned many heads over the past few years, exciting young bassist Huw Williams and Jay Davis on the drums; they will be playing Tsivi’s original music, as well as arrangements of traditional songs from Spain and the Middle East.

London based Israeli pianist and composer Sharett subtly brings together her own traditions, classical music , Jazz, Latin and much more” The Guardian

This promises to be a really lovely and unique evening of music. As ever, doors at 8:30, music from 9, entry only £5.

We hope to see you there!

Another week, another incredible gig, and this time an opportunity to hear one of the most exciting young musicians in the country, as we play host to two sets of new original music from the brilliant Elliot Galvin and his trio!

Elliot Galvin Trio

Elliot Galvin – piano

Tom McCredie – double bass

Simon Roth – drums

As a pianist and composer, Elliot has already created a startlingly personal voice, crediting influences as diverse (and exciting) as Jon Balke, Craig Taborn, Django Bates, Bill Frisell, Stravinsky, Ligeti, Shostakovich, John Adams, John Cage, musical traditions from India, Eastern Europe and East Africa and visual artists too! Elliot is a founding member of the South East London based Chaos Collective and has turned many a head with his playing in diverse ensembles including Laura Jurd’s quartet, and also leads many ensembles of his own. 

This gig sees Elliot’s first appearance at the Oxford, playing his music alongside the very killing Tom McCredie and Simon Roth, each of them exceptional musicians, composers and bandleaders in their own right – it promises to be a very special gig indeed, so don’t miss out!

As ever doors from 8:30, music from 9; entry only £5

See you there!

This week we’re carrying on with another VERY exciting gig, as we welcome one of the scene’s most exciting young musicians with an absolutely killer band!

Mike Chillingworth Sextet

Mike Chillingworth – alto / soprano saxes, bass clarinet

Tom Challenger – tenor sax, clarinet

George Crowley – tenor sax / clarinet

Lewis Wright – vibraphone

Sam Lasserson – double bass

Jon Scott – drums

Multi-woodwind virtuoso Chillingworth has been blowing people away for many years now on the London scene. He arguably became known to many through his involvement in the very brilliant, but all-too-shortlived band Round Trip lead by the late Richard Turner, but can also be seen playing with the Stan Sulzmann Big Band, the brilliant quartet of 3rd Millenium guitarist Ant Law, the Gareth Lockrane Big Band, Andrea Di Biase’s Oltremare Quartet and many other wonderful bands.

For this gig Mike is bringing his brand new sextet to play through his own compositions. The band itself features a tantalising line-up, with the MOBO award-winning Empirical vibesman Lewis Wright, ‘Ma’ leader and Loop Collective lynchpin Tom Challenger, bassist Sam Lasserson, known to many through his amazing work with Jeff Williams’ UK Quartet (plus much more besides) and Dice Factory / Kairos Quartet drummer Jon Scott. To have a band of this calibre playing highly inventive, challenging and fun original music will be a great treat indeed – get there early for a good seat!

As ever, doors at 8:30, music from 9; entry only £5.

We hope to see you there!

After a week off, we’re back with a bang here at Jazz @ The Oxford as we play host to two fantastic and contrasting sets of music!

Alex Merritt Quartet

Alex Merritt – tenor saxophone

John Turville – piano

Sam Lasserson – double bass

Jeff Williams – drums

Alex Merritt is one of the most impressive and individual of the young tenor players on the UK jazz scene. Leading this stellar quartet, featuring Parliamentary Jazz Award winning pianist Turville, the much-in-demand bassist Lasserson and US drums veteran Jeff Williams, Alex is bringing a set of his original compositions, which when played by this great band really do take the listener on a journey!

A lot of influences feed into the quartet music, many from Alex’s parallel interest in composition- composers such as Berg, Bartok and Messiaen and the carnatic music of Southern India as well many jazz influences.A lot of influences feed into the quartet music, many from Alex’s parallel interest in composition- composers such as Berg, Bartok and Messiaen and the carnatic music of Southern India as well many jazz influences.

“Alex has something special and original – an intriguing harmonic ear and an intrepid rhythmic flare.”
- Mike Gibbs

We’re also very lucky to be joined by the incredible improvising duo of saxophonist Josh Ison and cellist Nick Parry, a recent collaboration which has already produced some very special results:

This promises to be another wonderful evening of contemporary music and improvising, get yourselves down promptly for a good seat!

As ever, doors at 8:30, music from 9pm, entry only £5.

See you there!