A NIGHT of live music is jazzing up Old Town.

Evonne Birch-Jackson and Dave Knight have been running the Tuesday night Jazz Club, at Baker Street, in Wood Street, for the last two years and its popularity has soared.

The free evenings, that start at 8pm, bring a taste of New Orleans to Old Town with guests being treated to table service from the Jazz Girls, who are dressed in outfits from the 1920s and ‘30s.

The night has become so popular that often people struggle to find a table and the venue’s reputation attracts some of the big names in the jazz world.

Evonne said: “The evening has really grown and we are trying to provide a really good vintage night.

“We have Jazz Girls who provide table service and the music is top quality.

“This Tuesday we were fully booked for tables so it is a case of trying to find an area to stand.

“In Swindon live music has always been vibrant even though we are only a small town and we wanted to add to that.

“Some places do one-off jazz nights but we are the only place in Swindon to do live jazz music.

“It is also good because it introduces a younger audience to jazz music and Baker Street is an ideal venue for the evening.”

Next Tuesday, Bristol-based trumpeter Andy Hague and his quintet, who are one of the most popular bands in the area, will be visiting Swindon as part of their 14-date UK tour to promote their new album Cross My Palm.

One of the country’s leading saxophonists, Ed Jones, will guest star together with the quintet for this performance only.

Ed has been a presence on the jazz circuit for the last 20 years and is considered by many to be one of the top sax players in Europe.

As a session musician he has worked with Chaka Khan, D’Angelo and Tina Turner, among others.

And Evonne is expecting another busy evening.