Oxford Jazz Festival - Thurs April 21-Sun 24

The Oxford Jazz Festival programme shows the imaginative team behind it branching out and trying new things. Such as:

-A visit by BBC Radio 3 for a live recording of Jazz Library with Bobby Wellins at North Wall Arts Centre

-The luxury 5-Star Randolph Hotel (above) hosting a luxury 5-star Trio: Norma Winstone, Klaus Gesing and Glauco Venier. Kit Downes' Sextet will also be there, performing material from the not-yet-released album.

-Tim Whitehead will be at that friendly regular venue the Spin

-Concerts in the 1897 Town Hall by Rory Simmons' Fringe Magnetic and Soweto Kinch.

- New venues: the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building and the Said Business School

The full programme/booking is here and there is also an OJF Jukebox

James Hamilton wins British Composer Award

Congratulations toLeeds-based James Hamilton on winning the British Composer Award for a contemporary jazz composition for his Causeway Suite. (link has sound-clips)

He is being given the plaudit for the most memorable acceptance speech: "I haven't had a poo for a week."

James Hamilton has previously won the Jazzorg/ Worshipful Company award for jazz composition. Causeway Suite was produced with help from Leeds College of Music and Jazz Yorkshire. Runners-up were Tim Whitehead and Nathaniel Facey.