The new Oxford Jazz Festival has been running this weekend. Am I glad I checked the gig listings on Daily Info on Friday morning! I hope this festival survives; apparently many others around the UK are dying. I caught three of the acts. First was Andrea Mann, with a excellent mix of jazz standards, covers of more recent pop songs and one new original piece. The last was Sara Mitra. who was simply phenomenal at mostly 30’s jazz and blues numbers, despite being extremely pregnant.

Difficult to choose between them as their styles are quite distinct, but I think overall the best was Gwyneth Herbert. Mostly original jazz-folk songs (plus a couple of covers) with Hackney attitude. Damn but she can sing. Tremendous stage presence and rapport with her band as well. If you were anywhere else in Oxford last Saturday night, you were in the wrong place.