Keith, Maff, and Ralph’s Groovy Soul Jazz Night

I kick off my 2026 gig season by attending a concert held in a local pub in Oxford. Organised by the drummer, Keith Fairbairn, he brings together a trio of jazz musicians backing up a solo saxophonist. Nestled in Oxford’s local cafe-turned-concert venue, Common Ground, this sold out gig saw many a jazz fanatic in attendance. One of the most obvious observations I had was that was not a single still foot or body in sight - everyone was tapping or wiggling away to the groove.

Housing about 150 people through the night, the quartet balanced their set quite perfectly, in my opinion, having sections of upbeat music split up by gentler tunes. What particularly caught my attention was, in fact, the sheer range in demographic I noticed that night. Catering to both the student demographic and the locals living in the city, there was a decent mix at the venue. While the instrumental tracks did not have lyrics for the audience to sing along to, the tapping toes and stank faces around the room was all the proof of engagement the band would have needed.

I came across this band just having glanced at a poster in a pub once, and I’m very glad to have attended this event! My favourite characteristic of the musicians was genuinely the cohesion between the band, a contagious energy within the coordination at every refrain. Flying through various genres of jazz music from slower sultry numbers to more agile salsa-esque ones, the band did not disappoint, and I was left hoping for a longer set.

Not only were they fantastic musicians, they also engaged with the crowd through their speech, body language, and comedic musical moments. Some of my favourite renditions were definitely The Masquerade is Over (Nancy Wilson), Friday Evening at the Cadillac Club, and No More Blues. While the staging in this venue was humble, the musicality and quality of musicians far surpassed its facade. I am excited to see this band perform in various local festivals, and look forward to attending more of their gigs in the year.