Oxford has a rare breadth of creative talent, as revealed by three new albums from local or Oxford-based musicians. Mr Exstein's X-Ray Eyes is the delightful title of Nick Gill's quintet Byzantines. Confusingly labelled classic jazz' this set of songs evokes the lost world of Noël Coward and trim lawns where love is sparked at cricket matches and lost over croquet games. The experience is saved from being a thin repolishing of history by the surrealism in the lyrics and, above all, by the quality of the musicianship. James Evans on reeds produces some quite stunning solos, thus nudging the whole album into the mainstream of jazz.

First Hearing, by 3bpm, derived from the trio's members, Ben Twyford, Paul Jefferies and Martin Pickett, takes us straight into the harmonic elegance of European jazz. Led by Martin Pickett on piano there are strong hints of ESP and Trio while still maintaining individuality. Pickett has a clear yet restrained approach that gives space to the extended harmonies; he only occasionally lets out a swift phrase, which is thus all the more effective. Jefferies puts in solid, unfussy bass lines that enhance the clarity and Ben Twyford, on drums, remains restrained throughout. Pickett's own tracks and arrangements are models of jazz that can be listened to or just gently absorbed.

By contrast Malcolm Atkins describes the music on Trespassers Welcome, by AMV (Articulus Mediae Vitae, or 'mid-life crisis' to you and me) as "the inauthentic performance of early music". Starting with the words and melodies of medieval French love songs, sung with startling beauty by Liz Hodgson, Atkins adds in further vocal lines, electric violin, synthesiser, clarinet solos, all underpinned by Chris Hills on tabla and electric bass from Ian Nixon. On some tracks the multi-ethnic mix is further enriched by Indian vocal lines from Fabrizia Verrecchia, who also dances in live performances. The result is rich yet surprisingly accessible music that mixes austerity with improvisation and escapes all categorisation. See Arts scene on Page 11.

Mr Exstein's X-Ray Eyes, by Byzantines, on Lake Records (LACD249); First Hearing, by 3bpm, on Slam (SlamCD274); and Trespassers Welcome, by AMV, on Analeptic (ANACD 201).