The Spin Jazz Club in the Wheatsheaf, off Oxford’s High Street, features saxophonist Julian Nicholas with the house trio tonight and then at the other end of the week, on Thursday April 2, the Mark Lockheart Group is in the spotlight. Lockheart, no stranger to the club, this time brings a new group and new work, part of a nationwide tour.

The Group includes the subtle skills of Liam Noble on keyboard, Dave Smith on drums, Jasper Holby, bass and the powerful soloing trumpet of Dave Priseman. Lockheart is a musician and composer who manages to cross musical boundaries and to defy easy categorisation. Go to www.spinjazz.com to book a seat.

On Tuesday, the duo of vocalist Alison Bentley and guitarist Kevin Armstrong join Paul Jefferies at the Jazz Cellar at the Big Bang restaurant in Walton Street. These two players, so much in demand around the country, have a natural musical affinity and a strong sense of groove. Armstrong’s new album, Jazzelation, will also be launched at the Oxford Jazz Festival.

Tim Dawes and Tim Lapthorn are at the Old Parsonage on Friday and then on Sunday they are joined, first by the fine saxophonist Matt Wates at Quod in the afternoon and then by vocalist Bridget Beraha at Gee’s in Banbury Road. Beraha sings in several languages with a strong affinity with bossanovas from Argentina.

Music at the Backroom in the Bully on Tuesday comes from George Haslam with his Freetime Quartet from Prague plus special guest Stefano Pastor on violin. An opportunity to hear a group doing a short tour in Britain with veteran of the free jazz scene and creator of Slam CDs, Haslam on baritone and taragato. On Wednesday Lizzie Herbert is singing at the Copa Bar in George Street. This is one of the first of the musical events in the Oxfringe Festival. Over the weekend and into the following week there are a number of other events including Oxford Improvisers with poets and an Oxford Contemporary Music session with Azut and Natureboy. Go to oxfringe.com for a full listing.